South Floridians Hit the Streets to Urge Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart to Step Up for Immigration Reform

Miami – As we enter the second week of August recess, South Florida residents are feeling frustrated by the lack of movement on immigration reform. This week, they are responding to that frustration by going door to door in the districts of influential Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart to urge them to do more to win Comprehensive Immigration Reform with a path to citizenship.

From Thursday, August 15th until Saturday, August 17th, diverse organizations and community members from the Say Yes to Citizenship campaign will reach out to voters and business owners in Little Havana and Sweetwater, two neighborhoods with high concentration of Latino population in Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart’s districts, to collect signatures in support of Immigration Reform with a path to citizenship.

The objective is to ask both Representatives to take stronger concrete steps in urging Congress to move Immigration Reform forward, by 1) urging the Gang of 7 to finally introduce their much anticipated bipartisan bill; 2) telling the House Republican leadership to schedule a vote as soon as possible; and 3) standing up to the extremists in the Republican party that are blocking reform with hateful anti-Latino and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart have been our champions for Immigration Reform for years, and we need them now more than ever to use their leadership and make sure Immigration Reform happens this year,” says Marcela Espinal, Little Havana resident and volunteer canvasser. “We can’t wait any longer while detentions and deportations continue separating 1400 families every single day. Ileana and Mario have the power to do more than just say yes. They need to make this happen now.”

In addition to the canvassing, the Farmworker Association of Florida will host a farmworker caravan that has traveled throughout Florida since August 4th. The farmworker caravan will arrive in Florida City on Thursday, August 15th and will join other community members when they go knocking on doors and visiting local businesses. The activities will end on Saturday evening with a Community Meeting for Immigration Reform hosted by the Miami Workers Center.

During the three days of activities, organizations will also invite South Floridians to send emails and call their Representatives, to increase participation from community members who are not able to join the daily activities and make sure their voices are also heard.

Calendar of Activities

Thursday, August 15th – Farmworker Caravan arrives
6 to 8 pm: Prayer Vigil
Office of the Farmworker Association of Florida in Florida City
450 W Davis Pkwy, Florida City, FL 33034

Friday, August 16th – Canvassing in Sweetwater
2pm: Honk & Wave (Location TBD)
2:30 – 5 pm: Business outreach
4 – 7 pm: Residential canvassing

Saturday, August 17th – Canvassing in Little Havana and Community Meeting
11 am – 2 pm: Residential and Business canvassing in Little Havana
6 – 8 pm: Community Meeting for Immigration Reform
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 464 NE 16th St. Miami, FL 33132