Immigration Advocacy Group Releases Florida Lawmakers’ Report Cards for the 2023 Session

This tool offers Floridians a way to know for themselves not just what their elected officials say they are doing, but to learn what they are actually doing in Tallahassee.

“Actions speak louder than words,” goes the wise old saying. This sentiment is amply shared by the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) Votes, a leading organization that advocates for immigrant rights.

The operation has just launched its “Protecting Immigrant Neighbors and Communities (PINC! Squad)” campaign, a groundbreaking initiative aimed to inform Floridians about the impact of anti-immigrant governance in everyday life, and to empower voters to create change.

“Florida’s 2023 legislative session left a deep sense of disappointment among fellow residents,” said David Metellus, Director of Policy and Politics with FLIC Votes. Lawmakers, he said, seemed more concerned with catering to the political ambitions of Gov. Ron DeSantis “than with our communities, blatantly disregarding the needs and values of everyday Floridians.”

RELATED: DeSantis’ Immigration Laws Could Make Florida’s Childcare Crisis Worse

For this reason, this year, FLIC Votes is offering the community a way to know for themselves not just what their elected officials say they are doing, but to learn what they are actually doing in Tallahassee.

How It Works

All Florida legislators were graded based on how they voted on bills during the 2023 legislative session. Report cards were compiled based on each legislator’s votes on the state’s new anti-immigration law, the ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth, the expansion of the state’s Don’t Say Gay law in classrooms, the legalization of concealed carry of weapons and firearms without a license law, the 6-week abortion ban law, and laws that make it harder to vote, reduce workers’ rights, and defund public schools.

Each elected official received +1 point each time their vote on the bills protected communities and 0 points each time their vote harmed communities.

RELATED: Florida’s New Law Forces Hospitals to Ask About Immigration Status, but You Don’t Have to Answer

Alina A. Garcia, a House Republican for District 115, supported the anti-immigration law and the expansion of Don’t Say Gay, among other bills detrimental to Floridians. For this reason, she received a grade score of “F.”

For her part, Anna V. Eskamani, a House Democrat for District 42 opposed all laws that adversely affect communities, earning an A+.

If you’d like to find out how Florida legislators voted on the issues that affect you, your loved ones and community, visit HERE.

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