The governor’s office of Florida characterizes it as “the most stringent legislation against illegal immigration” in the United States, evoking concerns among many individuals.
Florida’s governor has labeled it as “the most robust legislation targeting illegal immigration” in the United States, heightening apprehension among numerous individuals.
Come July 1st, a law endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis back in May will come into effect, significantly complicating the lives of undocumented immigrants within the state. This legislation introduces severe penalties not only for those providing employment to undocumented immigrants, but also for those who transport them in their vehicles.
According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., approximately 772,000 undocumented migrants currently reside in Florida.
Despite facing legal limitations, this migrant population holds a vital role in Florida’s economic landscape, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality. These individuals often undertake jobs that U.S. citizens are often disinclined to pursue, primarily due to the wages offered by employers.
Since DeSantis signed the law nearly two months before its implementation, fear has permeated undocumented communities, taking a toll on their well-being.
News outlets have reported labor shortages emerging on farms and construction sites, with workers expressing their intentions to depart the state or, at the very least, contemplating such a possibility.
Moreover, there have been accounts of food stores reporting losses not only in terms of employees but also customers. These individuals, due to their immigration status, now restrict their outings to the bare minimum.
Globe Live Media provides an overview of the pivotal changes brought about by this new legislation, which has instilled fear within the undocumented workforce.
- Employment and mobility
The law signed by DeSantis establishes that all companies with more than 25 workers must confirm the legal status of their new employees through the E-Verify system -a website that allows to verify the employability of an immigrant from a legal point of view- as of July 1.
DeSantis is one of the contenders for the Republican nomination for the 2024 election.
Employers who fail to comply with this system face a variety of sanctions, including possible revocation of their employer license, as well as other penalties.
The new regulation punishes those who “knowingly and willfully” transport these undocumented immigrants to Florida (from out of state or out of the country).
It establishes that transporting these persons for the first time – and without minors – will be punishable as a third degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and up to US$5,000 in fines per person transported.
Repeat offenders who transfer minors or groups of more than five migrants may be held liable for a second-degree felony, which can result in up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to US$10,000 per person.
The mobility of these undocumented immigrants will also be affected by a provision that establishes that they will not be able to use licenses issued by other states in the country to drive in Florida and that if they cannot demonstrate that their presence was legally authorized when they obtained the license in another state, then they will be prohibited from operating vehicles in this state.
Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have regulations that allow the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In addition to these limitations, the new legislation prohibits counties and municipalities from allocating funds to any person or organization for the purpose of issuing identity or other documents to undocumented aliens.
Finally, the new law requires hospitals that treat patients covered by Medicaid, the health care program for low-income individuals, to include on their admission forms a question asking whether a patient is a U.S. citizen, a legal resident or an unauthorized alien.
Health care facilities will be required to submit to the state Agency for Health Care Administration a quarterly report detailing the number of patients in each category who were seen in the emergency department or admitted during the relevant period.
- Economic Impact
Shortly after Governor DeSantis signed the bill into law in early May, the local press in Florida commenced a stream of reports detailing the absence of numerous undocumented workers from their workplaces.
In recent weeks, media narratives have revolved around workers departing or contemplating leaving, driven by fear of the repercussions of the new regulation.
This week, Globe Live Media featured stories on the subject, including that of Alejandra, a Colombian migrant who, this Saturday, is relocating from Florida to New York with her three children, seeking refuge from the new law. Similarly, there is the account of Maikel, a Uruguayan migrant who had established a life in the state with his wife and two children, one of whom is afflicted with autism. They have ultimately made the decision to leave the United States altogether.
Gina Fraga, a migration specialist lawyer, issued a warning that the new law could lead to labor shortages within the agricultural sector. Concerns arise over the potential imposition of fines and even prison sentences for individuals transporting workers who may lack the specific documentation required.
“Everyone is gripped by panic, as the future remains uncertain,” Fraga disclosed to WPTV in May. Additionally, Fraga highlighted a significant backlog of ten months in the authorization process for work permits.
The Florida Farmworkers Association (FWAF), a non-profit organization representing over 10,000 minority members, primarily Latinos, labeled the legislation enacted by DeSantis as one of the most draconian immigration laws in existence.
“Who will continue to undertake roofing, janitorial services, restaurant food preparation, landscaping, residential and commercial construction, nursing care in our hospitals and nursing homes, and other essential tasks? Who will harvest the crops we rely on for our sustenance?” questioned the organization in a statement.
Following DeSantis’ endorsement of the new law, numerous videos have surfaced on TikTok featuring alleged cargo truck drivers appealing to others to abstain from transporting goods to Florida as a means of protest.
This is not the first instance where Florida’s governor has faced criticism for his policies regarding undocumented immigrants. In September 2022, Florida authorities chartered a private plane to relocate approximately fifty migrants, the majority of whom hailed from Venezuela, from Texas to the exclusive Martha’s Vineyard island, triggering a significant controversy.
The new law bestows an additional $12 million upon Florida’s migrant relocation program to facilitate operations of this nature.
DeSantis has defended the new law by citing the purported chaos prevailing at the U.S. border, attributing it to President Joe Biden’s policies. He accuses President Biden of neglecting his responsibility to safeguard U.S. territory.
Certain analysts associate these recent measures promoted by DeSantis, such as the law prohibiting Florida students of all levels from receiving education on gender issues, mockingly dubbed “don’t say gay” by his critics, with the governor’s alleged aspirations to seek the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
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