Venezuelan Baseball Stars (Retired) Send Letter to Sens. Rubio and Scott Urging Them to Cosponsor the SECURE Act
Signatories include Venezuelan players Wilson Álvarez, Jesus Marcano Trillo, Giovanni Carrara, Dámaso Blanco, and Rouglas Odor. They are asking the Florida senators to provide a path to citizenship to all TPS holders.
MIAMI, FL — Retired Venezuelan baseball stars sent a letter today to Florida Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott urging them to co-sponsor the SECURE Act, which would provide a path to permanent residency to an estimated 650,000 TPS holders, including more than 320,000 Venezuelans, most of whom live in Florida. Read the letter here.
The SECURE Act, which was introduced by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), “needs at least one Republican co-sponsor and the support of 10 GOP senators to become law,” the letter states.
Wilson Álvarez, Jesus Marcano Trillo, Giovanni Carrara, Dámaso Blanco, and Rouglas Odor, retired Venezuelan Baseball Stars, stated in the letter “Just as a path to citizenship in the U.S. has allowed the Cuban refugee community to thrive, permanent protection for all TPS holders is economically important, morally right, and politically smart,” The letter ends with an invitation to Senators Rubio and Scott to join as cosponsors: “As we say on the field: ‘There’s no place like HOME.’ Their home is right here.”
POLITICO National reported that American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) has met with 41 Republican Senators face to face. GOP donors are calling on Republican Senators to back bipartisan immigration reform bills, including the Durbin-Graham Dream Act of 2021, the Bennett-Crapo Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and the SECURE Act. These measures are critical to strengthening families and fulfilling labor shortage across industries.
The average TPS holder has been in the United States for more than 20 years, contributing to the country’s economy and helping rebuild and recover from the pandemic. Yet many live in a constant state of uncertainty, needing to reapply to the program every 6 to 18 months and pay substantial fees.
Maria Antonietta Diaz, President and Founder, Venezuelan American Alliance, and CEO and founder of GBS Group, said: “A path to citizenship will help people who came to this country fleeing socialist and authoritarian regimes and natural disasters to fully integrate into our society and economy. They have lived, worked, and built families in the United States, helping our economy recover and rebuild from the pandemic at a time when businesses are struggling to find workers. This will unleash their potential so they can fully contribute to communities across the United States”
William Diaz, Founder, Casas de Venezuela National Network, said: “Senators Rubio and Scott need to understand that the eyes of the American people, and especially the Latino community, are watching their steps and their actions as it relates to their support for the SECURE Act. Their silence makes them accomplices. If they don’t believe me, it is up to them to take the risk. This is the time for them to speak loudly and support our community at a time when we need it most.”
Arianny Eduardo, Interim Executive Director of IMPAC Fund, the Florida chapter of the American Business Immigration Coalition, said: “Businesses are struggling to find workers at a time of chronic labor shortages. Providing a path to citizenship for TPS holders will give certainty to families and employers, and would strengthen and expand our workforce so that our economy can fully recover. The time for action is now.”
Cecilia González, Venezuelan TPS applicant, co-founder of JOVENEX FL, said: “My family and I came to this country escaping political persecution from the Venezuelan totalitarian regime. I’m grateful for having been granted TPS, but I recognize it is not enough. In order for us to accomplish our American Dream we need a pathway to citizenship. While TPS is just temporary, the dreams we have in this country are not.”
ABOUT
IMPAC Fund is the Florida chapter of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) which promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens. For more information go to impacfund.org.
The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.
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