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Cruz: ‘I Am Ashamed by What’s Happening Here’

Janet Cruz | State House | Politics

State Rep. Janet Cruz, a candidate for the state Senate, condemned the Trump policy of separating immigrant children from their families.

TALLAHASSEE – Janet Cruz, a Democratic candidate for the Florida Senate, on Tuesday (June 19) joined the chorus of officials condemning the Trump administration’s decision to forcibly take immigrant children from their families.

“Is this what we’ve come to?” Cruz asked. “Are we really talking about enforcement? Are we really talking about deterring those folks that come to this country by torturing and terrorizing their children? I’m sure there’s a better way. This is egregious. I am ashamed of what’s happening here.”

Cruz called on Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature to immediately band the practice in Florida.

“Separating children from their parents is cruel, unjust, and a form of child abuse,” Cruz said.

Cruz made her statement during a press conference in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Tallahassee.

Cruz is the minority leader in the state House of Representatives. She is running for the District 18 seat in the Florida Senate.

Cruz is a fourth generation Tampa resident, descended from Spanish and Italian cigar makers. Cruz was elected to the state House in a February 2010 special election. In February 2015, Cruz was unanimously elected as the Leader Designate of the House Democratic Caucus for the 2016-2018 term. She became the first Hispanic House Minority Leader. She was recognized for her legislative service by the Community Health Charities of Florida, the Florida Health Care Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.

Before running for office, Cruz was an optician and later the director of Optical Operations for Cigna Healthcare, as well as being active in her community as a volunteer for Paint Your Heart Out Tampa, a member of the Hillsborough Community College Alumni Foundation, and Corporate Chair of Cigna Healthcare for the United Way Campaign.

Cruz is running for the District 18 seat in the state Senate, which is currently held by Republican Dana Young, who is running for reelection. District 18 is spread from South Tampa to northwest Hillsborough County.

The election is Nov. 6.

For information about Cruz, go to janetcruz2018.com.

To see a video of Cruz’s statement, go to facebook.com.

Photo is a screen capture from the video of Cruz’s statement. Video courtesy of Janet Cruz campaign.

Janet Cruz | Immigration | Asylum Seekers | Politics | Elections | Tampabay News

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