STATEMENT FROM ALIENTO ON BILLS SB 1718 AND HR 1617 IN FLORIDA

Once again, our immigrant families, friends, and neighbors are being attacked without regard for their well-being or the well-being of our communities.

We strongly condemn bills SB 1718 and HR 1617 in Florida, which pose several threats to our communities. From invalidating legally issued out-of-state driver´s licenses for visitors and tourists without regulated immigration status, the collection of DNA samples from individuals detained under a federal detainer request who lack controlled immigration status, the requirement for hospitals accepting Medicare to collect data from patients, and to make it a felony to transport or house those navigating the immigration system, this is a callous attack to the safety, health and human rights of our communities. 

With these bills, traveling or living with your family or friends could result in severe consequences, including prison, for anyone who dares.

We are calling on every American and elected officials from every state to denounce these outrageous bills, and their sponsors, and issue a Travel Advisory Warning. 

We won´t stand down while these injustices persist. We successfully fought against SB1070 in Arizona, and Aliento will continue to fight, organize, and work diligently to ensure these types of rhetoric against our immigrant and undocumented communities stop. Arizona lost millions in tourism, thousands of families left the state, and the relationships between institutions and immigrant communities broke. Anti-immigrant policies are bad for business, bad for communities, and bad for the state. 

“Some elected officials in Florida are showing no respect or concern for the lives of our immigrant communities,” said José Patiño VP of  Education & External Affairs from Aliento. “While we are not surprised by the mean-spirited tactics that Governor DeSantis and his allies are using against immigrants and undocumented communities, it is also not a surprise to see tens of thousands of people and organizations condemning these actions. Not only are these bills mean-spirited, but, economically damaging. One thing for us is clear; we know how to fight and unite against attacks like this. At Aliento, we are committed to continuing our work to ensure our communities are safe and healthy.”