Ms. Rebecca Tallent

Assistant to the Speaker for Policy

 

Via E Mail, Fax and First Class Mail

 

Dear Ms. Tallent:

 

Florida Voices for Immigration Reform is a coalition of faith, business and law enforcement based in Palm Beach County, Florida which since 2009 has been acting as a bridge between Republicans and Democrats so that our Congress in a bi-partisan fashion can fix our antiquated immigration system and give our nation a system that promotes legal migration and makes us globally competitive for the 21st. century. Please visit www.fvirpbc.com for information about our coalition.
 
Our coalition sent you a letter on January 23, 2014 urging the House to move forward with immigration reform.
 
Our coalition sent a letter on August 2011 to all the members of the Bi-Partisan Deficit Committee making the case that immigration reform will reduce the deficit.  Last year, the Congressional Budget Office reached the same conclusion. http://www.fvirpbc.com/letter_2_bipartisan_committe.shtml.
 
Our coalition joined forces with the national coalition spearheaded by the National Immigration Forum, called: "Bibles, Badges and Business" www.bbbimmigration.org
 
We are hopeful that in 2014 our nation will have immigration reform, since this policy issue affects our children, families, cities, nation and foreign relations. We are open to the piecemeal approach of the House and in search of compromise, we are also open to legalization, without the "separate direct path toward citizenship". We believe that earned legal status, where each person can obtain their legal permanent residency and eventually citizenship, individually, with no bars to citizenship, is a fair compromise.
 
We  believe that  the majority of the undocumented community that has suffered the massive deportations, is also open to this approach. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/195275-new-priority-for-immigration-reform.
 
We hope that the House soon begins to introduce its piecemeal legislation so that in 2014 our nation can have needed immigration reform.
 
Our coalition strongly believes that Congress must act.   Yet given the massive deportations and for our national security we believe that if House fails to act by this summer, the Executive  will use the power it has over immigration to at least grant deferred action to all those covered under the Senate bill.    We understand that this is only a band -aid solution, yet based on both national security and humanitarian grounds we believe that the Executive has the power to act, absent Congressional action.   We stand by the recommendations made by the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law sent to the Administration last week.   http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1114968673451-11/4-14-14+Center+for+Human+Rights+Admin+Proposals+to+Obama.pdf
 
Thank you very much for your service.

 

                                                            Sincerely,

 

                                                            Aileen Josephs, Esq.

                                                            Co Chair FVIR

 

                                                            Gary Walk, Esq.

                                                            Co Chair FVIR

 

                                                            Pastor Monica Delgado

                                                            Co Chair FVIR

cc
 
Mr. Josh Breisblatt, National Immigration Forum, "Bibles, Badges and Business"
Mr. Mike Sommers, Chief of Staff, House Speaker Boehner
Mr. Cesar Gonzalez, Chief of Staff, Rep.Mario  Diaz-Balart
Mr. Joel Katz, Legislative Assistant, Immigration, House Majority Leader, Rep. Eric Cantor
Mr. Graham Owens, Legislative Assistant,Immigration, Rep. Bob Goodlatte
Mr. Andy Speth, Chief of Staff, Rep. Paul Ryan
Mr. Casey Higgins, Legislative Counsel, Rep. Paul Ryan
Ms. Susan Collins, Chief of Staff, Rep. Luis Gutierrez