March 19, 2013 The Honorable Marco Rubio U.S.

Senate 8669 NW 36th Street Suite 110 Doral, FL 33166 Dear Senator Rubio: We support your active engagement in efforts to deliver real immigration reform solutions. As leaders of Hispanic-serving nonprofit organizations from across Florida, we urge you to continue to work with your colleagues in the U.S. Congress to deliver a common sense solution to fix our broken immigration system. Now is the time to pass a bipartisan immigration reform bill that establishes a roadmap to citizenship for the 11 million aspiring Americans who have been in the United States. It is time to demonstrate to the American people that Washington can usher in a new era of responsibility and deliver real solutions that restore dignity and the rule of law to our system. We represent the 12 Latino-serving organizations affiliated with the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) in Florida. Together, our network employs 264 people and serves 124,950 Floridians in regions throughout the state, including Miami, Homestead, Florida City, Hollywood, Fort Meyers, Immokalee, Casselberry, Tampa, and Orlando. We see the impact of our broken immigration system on communities and neighborhoods in Florida every day. Our state includes 825,000 thousand undocumented immigrants, including young people who came here as children and their families, agricultural workers, and others who have been here for more than 10 years to provide a better life for their families. Our countrys immigration system has been neglected and is in need of reform. We are doing our part to help our country get on the right track, and it is time for Congress to do its part. Immigration reform is a critical element of our economic recovery. It is undeniable that jobs and the economy are leading concerns for our state, and we must do everything we can to strengthen our economy. A broken immigration system impacts our economy and budgets at all levels of government, and fixing it can level the playing field for workers, taxpayers, and honest employers. The 5.6 percent of our workforce that is made up of undocumented workers contributes to the gross state product, produces tax revenue, and would contribute even more if they were able to earn citizenship. According to the Center for American Progress, the undocumented workforce of Florida generated $31.22 billion in tax revenues in 2010. That tax revenue would increase by $1.13 billion if the undocumented workforce in Florida was able to get into a newly created line for them to earn the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. At a time when voters are exceedingly frustrated by partisan gridlock, this is an issue that has

drawn support from multiple sectors of society and leadership from both parties. In fact, the vast majority of Americans are in a much more pragmatic place than Congress has been on this issue. In a recent poll, Americans supported a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants by a 2-1 margin. We are encouraged by news reports that Republican and Democratic members of Congress have partnered to advance solutions. We believe the Florida Congressional delegation as a whole should play a leadership role in efforts to produce bipartisan legislation, and we stand ready to support you in advancing reform. The sense of urgency and expectations for real change in our communities are stronger than ever. The country needs real solutions that are aligned with Americas best values and traditions. We are calling on the Florida Congressional delegation to contribute to a constructive debate and deliver the smart immigration solutions needed to move the country forward. Sincerely,

Organization: Hispanic Unity Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations Hispanic Services Council Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc. Hispanic Health Initiatives, Inc.

Authorized Representative: Josie Bacallao President/CEO Arturo Lopez Director Maria F Pinzon Executive Director Diane Cantor Executive Director Josephine Mercado, JD Founder/Executive Director Marytza Sanz President/CEO Rosa Plasencia Executive Director Maria Garza President

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