Florida, U.S. continue to put a high price on immigrants’ American dreams | Opinion

The barrage of attacks toward immigrants and refugees across the country continues, this time in Florida. Historically a place where Cuban political refugees and Haitians fleeing natural disasters and political turmoil brought their skills and culture to build vibrant and thriving cities, the state is experiencing a fundamental shift as Gov. Ron DeSantis pushes an anti-immigrant agenda that will prohibit the continuation of this tradition and effectively tells immigrants they are no longer welcome.

The crown jewel of DeSantis’ agenda is a statewide “E-Verify” mandate, which would force all Florida employers to run every new hire through the cumbersome and flawed federal employment eligibility verification system — a move that is opposed by immigrants’ rights organizations as well as business leaders and associations across the state united by the American Business Immigration Coalition and IMPAC Fund. While E-Verify would do little to stop unauthorized immigration, it would unnecessarily risk the employment of more than 1 million work-authorized residents, including U.S. citizens, and cost Florida employers about $4.7 billion.

The human impact of implementing mandatory E-Verify would be the separation of families, devastation of key economic industries and the failure of small businesses across the state. But this is just one of the many public attacks on immigrant communities.

Less visible but equally dangerous is the proposal for a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fee increase that is a direct attack on hardworking, low-income communities. As recently as 2000, the cost to naturalize was only $225. Under the proposal, the new fees to apply for U.S. citizenship would go from $725 to $1,170.

Recently, the courts ruled in favor of public charge. According to USCIS, “The Final Rule requires applicants for adjustment of status who are subject to the public-charge ground of inadmissibility and certain applicants and petitioners seeking extension of stay and change of status to report certain information related to public benefits.” This ruling is another concrete example of this administration’s relentless attacks on poor immigrants.

It is un-American to make the ability to join our democracy something that only the rich can afford. These increases are unfair and punitive, and we need a legislative solution to prevent these increases from occurring. The New Deal for New Americans Act (HR 4928), recently introduced in Congress, does just that.

Immigrants who apply to naturalize already pay a hefty fee. They voluntarily undergo a criminal and security background check. They study the U.S. Constitution, government and history. Except for the very elderly, they take a written and oral exam in English. And if they get over all of these hurdles, then they raise their right hand and pledge to defend the U.S. Constitution.

Immigrants responded to attacks by Trump’s presidential campaign on Mexicans as “rapists” and Africans as coming from “shithole” countries by applying to become U.S. citizens. According to the National Partnership for New American’s “Naturalize Now, Vote Tomorrow” report, almost 5.3 million immigrants and refugees have naturalized during the past six years. We saw a massive spike in this number right around the time Trump won the 2016 presidential election. One clear motive to keep more immigrants from naturalizing with these fee increases is to prevent them from voting.

New American voters, newly naturalized immigrants and refugees have the power to sway the outcome of this year’s presidential election, future midterm elections and state and local elections. This is especially true if they vote in places where newly naturalized citizens represent large voting blocs, such as swing states like Florida.

The New Deal for New Americans Act returns us to the aspirational values of the Statue of Liberty. It freezes naturalization application fees, statutorily protects fee waivers and prohibits the use of naturalization fees for immigration enforcement. The Act brings us closer to our values by creating a National Office in New Americans, welcoming refugees and strengthening due-process protections. It would also assist immigrants in their journey to achieve the American Dream by assisting with English-language learning and access to better jobs.

It is an election year, and we will hear a lot of mean-spirited grandstanding like the call for this anti-immigrant E-Verify proposal. But we must respond with a positive vision of a nation that welcomes and includes new Americans. We will work for actual immigration solutions and true protections for the undocumented.

We need policies that encourage immigrants to become fully contributing U.S. citizens. Democracy should not have a price tag.

Julissa Arce is a media contributor and author. She is the cofounder and chairman of the Ascend Educational Fund college scholarship and mentorship program that assists immigrant students, regardless of their immigration status, ethnicity, or national origin.

This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 1:56 PM.