Immigrant Rights Groups Launch Multi-Million Dollar Campaign to Mobilize Key Immigrant Electorate
A coalition of civic engagement groups have taken aim to politically mobilize millions of immigrant voters, especially in three key states with prominent Latino populations.
The Multi-Million Voter Engagement Campaign
According to a statement from the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), regarded as the largest immigrant-rights grassroots organization, several groups -- together known as the Center for Community Change Action -- will launch a multi-million dollar "Families Fighting Back" national campaign to register eligible voters and educate them on each candidate's stance on immigration.
"Latinos and immigrants will vote in unprecedented numbers because their families are at stake," stated Florida Immigrant Action Committee Executive Director Maria Rodriguez. "The villains in this story are all those who seek to divide us: politicians who dehumanize immigrant families to score political points; hate-mongers panicked by demographic shifts; and corporations who profit from the detention of our family members."
"We will be sending a clear message when we vote that we will stand up for our families, our friends, our communities. It has never been more important to naturalize, register, and vote. It has never been more crucial to get politically active in every way possible," continued Rodriguez.
FIRM also confirmed the launch of a super PAC (political action committee), the Immigrant Voters Win Super Pac, which aims to further amplify pro-immigrant voters' voices on Election Day.
"The extremely hateful and dangerous rhetoric coming from some Republican presidential candidates has raised the stakes this election and the immigrant rights movement is once again rising to the call to defeat any candidate who embraces racism and harmful immigration policies," said FIRM spokesperson Sulma Arias. "There will be 27.3 million Latinos eligible to vote this November and we will make sure they show up on Election Day."
Focus in Colorado, Nevada and Florida
While "Families Fighting Back" will be a national campaign, there will be focused attention in Colorado, Nevada and Florida. Of the three states, only Florida has yet to host its presidential primary.
The Sunshine State will hold its Democratic and Republican presidential primaries on March 15. According to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, the state is home to 2 million Latino registered voters, and approximately 1.7 million Latinos will vote on Election Day in November.
Colorado already hosted its Democratic presidential caucus, which saw Bernie Sanders comfortably defeat Hillary Clinton with 58.9 percent to 40.4 percent. Republicans will host a primary election in Colorado on April 9. In Nevada, Clinton defeated Sanders with 52.7 percent to 47.2 percent, while Donald Trump won the GOP's caucus with 45.9 percent as Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz placed second and third place, respectively.
According to NALEO, the 2016 election season could see more than 194,000 Latino voters in Nevada and over 277,500 in Colorado.
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