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Florida Immigration Law Will Result in Million-Dollar Losses

STARTED IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA | “We Are All Florida” Caravan arrived from the American West to the capital of Florida. (Photo/EFE)

Business Community and Churches Reject the Law

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Florida’s SB 1718 law, now in effect, will separate thousands of immigrant families. At the same time, this legislation will cause the loss of billions of dollars each year in Florida due to the anticipated shortage of labor resulting from the exodus of migrant workers. The controversial law penalizes companies that hire undocumented immigrants and has already led thousands of undocumented individuals to relocate to neighboring states out of fear of possible deportation.

This is the argument put forward by Beatriz López, from the organization Immigration Hub. “It’s a job killer, basically,” stated Congressman Darren Soto, a federal representative for Florida, who predicted that the law will severely impact key sectors of Florida’s economy, such as hospitality, agriculture, and construction. A study by the Florida Policy Institute indicates that SB 1718 threatens nearly 400,000 undocumented individuals working in six major sectors in Florida, accounting for almost 10 percent of the workforce.

According to this organization, the implementation of the government’s E-Verify system for companies with more than 25 employees, to confirm a person’s eligibility to work in the country, will result in over $12.6 billion in annual economic losses for the Florida economy. “We are preparing for the worst,” warned state legislator Anna Eskamani, who believes that the law is being used as a political platform by DeSantis, one of the contenders for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

Florida Immigration Law Will Result in Million-Dollar Losses

Fear in the Business Community and Churches

“Basically, this law is going to make life more expensive for Floridians and their families,” lamented Congresswoman Dotie Joseph, who expressed that they are waiting to see how the law will be implemented before deciding on the next steps. Vilchez asserted that there is a lot of concern among business leaders in the state, but rather than protesting loudly, they are acting behind the scenes in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida.

“It’s a very difficult context, and business leaders are somewhat afraid,” stated the activist, referring to the fear of reprisals from the governor, especially after the battle he waged against Disney when an executive from the corporation criticized the law that prohibits addressing gender identity and sexual orientation in school classrooms. State Representative Johanna López said that there is also concern in churches and faith communities, which will be “dramatically affected” by this “unconstitutional law.”

“We are under attack, and we will continue to see attacks on immigrants. It’s time for President Joe Biden’s administration to pass immigration reform,” warned Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Petit referred to the marches against SB 1718 that have been organized in recent days and continue to take place, including one in Fort Myers on the west coast of the state, which will be followed by a 6.4-kilometer walk.

“We Are All Florida” Caravan Advances

The “Todos Somos Florida” caravan gained support from all corners of the United States. This initiative started in San Diego, California, and made a stop in San Antonio, where a demonstration was held in front of the City Council. The caravan traveled through the state of Louisiana, reaching the capital of Florida, Tallahassee. Another branch of the caravan departed from Tucson and arrived in Phoenix, both cities in Arizona. In this southern state, there is the regrettable memory of a similar law from the 2000s.