Florida Democrats Chair: "We stand with DREAMers."
Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about the decision from the Trump Administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which puts thousands of Florida’s young immigrants at risk of being deported.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo released the following statement in support of DREAMERs:
“Donald Trump broke his promise by unlawfully ending DACA as a part of his assault on immigrants. For these young immigrants, home is here. It is shameful to see state officials like AG Ashley Moody side with Trump instead of protecting thousands of immigrants who call Florida home. We stand with DREAMers and their lawful right to pursue the American Dream. While our democracy and our country’s future is at risk, the Supreme Court should keep DACA in place and remind President Trump that DACA is legal and he is not above the law.”
Florida Facts
- Florida is home to 25,500 DACA recipients.
- Florida DACA recipients contribute $157.4 million in federal taxes.
- Florida DACA recipients fiscal and economic contributions boost Florida’s economy.
- DACA recipients contribute $72.8 million to Florida in state and local taxes.
- According to the Center for American Progress, Florida would lose an estimated annual GDP of more than $1.5 billion from removing DACA workers.
- Florida DACA recipients hold over $776 million in annual spending power.
- Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody has included Florida as part of a multistate Amicus Brief filed in the Supreme Court, as an effort to rescind the DACA program.
- This year, the House led by Democratic leadership passed the Dream Act. The bill is still waiting to be heard in the republican-controlled Senate.
- Governor DeSantis and the GOP-controlled passed SB 168, an anti-immigrant bill that would put in risk immigrant populations, including DREAMERs, in the state of Florida.
- In 2013, Rick Scott vetoed a bill to let Dreamers get driver’s licenses.
- Governor Rick Scott opposed the Dream Act and during his campaign for governor actively supported an Arizona-style immigration law for Florida.
- Senator Marco Rubio supported Trump’s decision to end DACA program.
- While Pam Bondi was Attorney General, Florida joined a federal lawsuit to block President Obama’s executive action for parents of U.S. Citizens or legal permanent residents.