Migrant children deserve compassion, not callous politics, from Florida’s leaders | Opinion

Miami-Dade is the epicenter of Florida’s immigrant community, and I’m proud to represent a portion of it in the Florida House. The area I represent, House District 117, is home to one of the original Operation Pedro Pan facilities, where thousands of Cuban children arrived in the 1960s, sent by their families to escape the lawless violence of the Castro regime.

This shared history is the primary reason that we South Floridians understand the courage needed to leave your home country in pursuit of a better life. And this shared history is what inspired me to run for office and represent these thousands of residents.

I have had many opportunities to learn of the long and arduous process immigrants follow to obtain legal rights of residence and citizenship. I’ve attended meetings with immigrant families and listened to the experiences of children being housed in Homestead detention centers. I’ve heard the stories of the traumas they faced from dangerous journeys to get to the United States to apply for asylum. This is in addition to the traumas from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and abuse suffered at the hands of officers in an unforgiving system.

These children coming here today reflect the journey my ancestors took years ago. But while my ancestors arrived in this country on slave ships, brought against their will by human traffickers seeking to use their bodies as currency, these children were sent here by their families in search of a brighter future. Unfortunately, the reception both received is much too similar.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans are demonizing new, undocumented immigrants, painting them as brutish “others” undeserving of our compassion and arguing, absent proof, that they bring untold levels of crime and violence to our shores. In addition, these elected leaders are removing local authority to handle these situations humanely and in the best interests of the greater community.

Florida lawmakers currently are debating legislation, SB 1808 and HB 1355, that would mandate local law enforcement contract with ICE and prohibit state and local governments from contracting with businesses that transport immigrants seeking asylum. Imposing penalties on legitimate transportation companies likely will result in an increase in human trafficking.

Local authorities understand the local immigrant communities in ways that ICE does not. We have learned that many families are so desperate that they will travel to Florida by any means necessary, and removing the authority of local municipalities to regulate such movement, it becomes much more profitable for smugglers. Too many of these migrants will succumb to the dangers of human traffickers.

I cannot in good conscience support any bills that deliberately harm children and remove authority from the local municipalities and elected leaders that I represent in Tallahassee. Like so many other bills this session, this one is a solution in search of a problem. And solutions provided create a host of new problems that will put children’s lives at risk.

We need to address real issues facing our state: the affordable-housing crisis, stagnant wages and breaking barriers to our freedoms that will allow us to live healthy, prosperous and safe lives in Florida.

Too often, we forget that the immigrant experience in this country is vast and broad, spanning hundreds of countries. As a Black man, I am proud that Florida ranks second in the nation — after New York — for having the largest population of Black immigrant residents. Of the 739,000 Black immigrants in our communities, one in five work in healthcare, heroes who are on the front lines every day; 305,000 have attended college; and 14,500 are small-business owners driving our economy. They value hard work and the American Dream.

I pledge to continue to fight for them, and for all Floridians. Florida truly is like no place on Earth and our diverse immigrant population is a valuable part of that. They — and all Floridians — deserve our support and to be treated with dignity and respect.

Rep. Kevin Chambliss represents Miami-Dade’s District 117 in the Florida House.