Law

Florida Voters Overwhelmingly Support Bipartisan Senate Immigration Bill

MIAMI – As the Senate takes up debate this week on the bipartisan immigration reform bill, Public Policy Polling released the results of a new state poll showing overwhelming voter support for the legislation.

At a press conference today hosted by renowned journalist Helen Aguirre Ferre, a diverse coalition of groups and organizations in Florida, including conservatives, businesses and immigrant rights advocates, discussed how the new poll indicates that voters in Florida are ready for a commonsense solution to the country’s broken immigration system that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

The poll was sponsored by the Alliance for Citizenship, Partnership for a New American Economy and Republicans for Immigration Reform, three organizations who represent the broad support for immigration reform from across the political spectrum.

“Poll after poll shows support for immigration reform with a path to citizenship, across party and racial lines. Today we stand with business leaders that understand that reform will expand the productive and consumptive capacity of immigrant families benefitting our state and national economy,” said Maria Rodriguez, Executive Director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition and a speaker on today’s press conference.

“However, our Senator Marco Rubio keeps forgetting what his constituents want and is now threatening to block immigration reform using border security as an excuse. The best way to secure our border is to have an orderly and possible legal immigration system. Senator Rubio, you can be our Moses or our Judas. You can show visionary leadership or you can cow tow to the extreme, irrational elements within the Senate. The polls show repeatedly that Florida has your back if you do the right thing, do you have ours?”

According to the poll, voters in Florida support the Gang of Eight bill by large margins. Moreover, the results show that there is a genuine imperative for Senator Marco Rubio to support the bill as constituents said they are more likely to vote for an elected official who votes for reform.

“The time is now! There is broad consensus and bipartisan support for common sense immigration reform that provides a road to citizenship,” says Elena McCullough from Mi Familia Vota in Florida. “Let’s make sure that obstructionists who would stand in the way understand they are standing in the way of the American people. Let’s finally pass Immigration Reform in the US Senate and House of Representatives and end the politics and posturing.”

Highlights of the findings include:

72% of those polled said they strongly or somewhat support bipartisan immigration reform legislation being debated in Washington;

71% of those polled said they strongly or somewhat support a bill that includes a tough but fair path to citizenship;

74% of those polled are more likely to vote for an elected official who supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship.

86% of those polled said it was very or somewhat important that the U.S. fix its immigration system this year.

Of those polled, 39% identified as Republicans, 39% as Democrats, and 21% as Independents.

Full results of the poll can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4utb0q8j7ftj1lc/FloridaResults2.pdf

Related Articles

Back to top button