They ask not to politicize immigration in Florida, a state of migrants

The Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) asked this Monday not to “politicize” the issue of immigration or “further divide” the population of a US state that has prospered “thanks to the contributions made by people from all over the world”.

ACLU Florida issued a statement from its executive director, Tiffani Lennon, regarding the decision of Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency and deploy the National Guard following the arrival of numerous Cuban and Haitian migrants by sea in this state southern.

“Our democracy works best when people seeking refuge are welcomed and protected.”, underlines the statement, in which the ACLU criticizes the governor of Florida for his immigration policy and accuses him of wanting to “win political points at the expense of people whoseek protection from violence and persecution”.

“As migrants reach our shores, our number one priority as a state must be to ensure that all people are safe, healthy, cared for, and treated humanely.”, said Lennon, who recalled that asylum is “a human right codified in international and national law”.

The executive director of the ACLU Florida stressed that Florida cannot “turn your back” to asylum seekers.

“Immigrants and their families are an integral part of the fabric of Florida. Our state has a long history of receiving migrants from Cuba, Haiti and other countries in search of safety and refuge.”, he added.

In reference to DeSantis, the ACLU board noted that “Instead of politicizing the issue, elected officials should work with groups on the ground and help organizations that have stepped up to welcome and support immigrants and asylum seekers.”.

Rather than opt for division, the ACLU urged Floridians to unite around the fact that “our state has prospered and continues to prosper thanks to the contributions made by people around the world.”

“All people must be treated with dignity and respect, including children and families seeking asylum. We should be uniting and caring for people, not dividing, traumatizing and putting them at risk.”, he concluded.

The massive arrival of undocumented immigrants in boats to the south of the state has caused a humanitarian crisis and forced the authorities to channel resources to attend to more than a thousand who arrived last weekend at Dry Tortuga National Park and the Florida Keys, according to federal authorities.

The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, signed an executive order this Friday that allows him to mobilize National Guard troops and allocate new state resources to face the migratory wave that is affecting the south of the state, as well as “help relieve pressure on local resources”.

The executive order will allow the state to “deploy air assets, including Florida National Guard planes and helicopters”, indicates a statement from the governor’s office.

The Republican DeSantis argues in his executive order that, only in the first two months of the current fiscal year (it began on October 1), the Border Patrol (CBP) has detained more than 460,000 people trying to enter the country through the southwestern border.

Source: EFE