Immigration

Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz made an unannounced visit to Miramar last week and described the conditions as “horrific.” “What I saw were people packed in like sardines, in conditions I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy,” she said at a press conference. Read more »

“I’ve been to this facility many times alongside my late colleague Alcee Hastings because of reports of a lack of sun cover, water, and toilets for people waiting to check in. Today, I had to do this surprise inspection to see inside for myself, and what I saw were people packed in like sardines, in conditions I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I’ll continue to conduct oversight of South Florida ICE operations and fight to hold them accountable for their brutality.” Read more »

The congresswoman said she was not allowed to speak to the detainees and only saw them behind a glass. They called to her, she said, crying for their “human rights.” “They looked shriveled and miserable,” she said. “You wouldn’t wish these conditions on anyone you love, or really on anyone at all. It is inhumane. It is unacceptable.” Read more »

“Hundreds of thousands of families who followed the law, passed multiple criminal background checks, earned work permits, and paid taxes will be torn apart, thrown in ICE jails, or sent back to a nation overrun by criminal gangs who murder and kidnap at will,” said Wasserman Schultz. “This fight is not over. When I return to Washington next week, I’ll introduce the TPS Review Act to restore checks and balances on the President’s handling of TPS, because nobody is above the law.” Read more »

“This callous ruling will have devastating implications for 1.3 million TPS recipients who have been targeted by Trump despite abiding by the law and contributing to Florida's economy," she said in a statement. "The Court selectively ignored Trump's open racism against Haitians to imply that race was not a factor in this case. We all know better." Read more »

“I am heartbroken and infuriated by the Supreme Court's despicable decision on TPS for Haitians and Syrians. Read more »

I’m proud to have long represented one of the nation’s most diverse Caribbean and Latin American diasporas, whose stories and struggles shape my commitment to democracy and justice abroad and at home. I will seize this opportunity to continue to champion human rights, lift the voices of those suffering under violent repression, and fight Trump's self-serving, America-last foreign policy. Read more »

"The Everglades internment camp’s closure is long overdue. This monument to cruelty, waste and environmental and tribal lands abuse should have never been built. At my surprise oversight inspection last month, I saw atrocious conditions that Florida taxpayers were forced to spend over $1 million a day on, just to cram people with no criminal history into cages and trample our sensitive Everglades. Read more »

“TPS holders earn work permits, pay taxes, and get zero government welfare. They pay into Medicare and Social Security and get nothing in return,” said Wasserman Schultz. “It does nobody any good to take good people out of the workforce, people who just came here to make a better life for their families.” Read more »

Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for restoring Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants, Democratic South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Friday urged the nation's highest court to grant the extension of TPS. Read more »