Eight days ago Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718 into law. This bill is the strongest illegal immigration law in the United States. Many are calling the anti-immigration policies unjust. DeSantis believes the anti-illegal immigration bill will help “combat the Biden border crisis.” This new law becomes effective on July 1, 2023.
Florida’s SB 1718
The new law will require Florida employers to use an E-Verify system to check their employees’ eligibility for employment. Additionally, it will fine any employer, $1,000 per day, who fails to use the E-Verify system. The fine portion of this bill will not be effective until July 1, 2024.
In addition, SB 1718 will suspend the license of any employer who intentionally employs illegal aliens. Furthermore, the anti-illegal immigration law makes using fake identification to gain employment a felony.
Florida’s new policy also enhances penalties for human smuggling. This includes intentionally transporting five or more illegal aliens, or one illegal alien minor, a second-degree felony. Anyone found guilty of this faces a $10,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison.
Additional Policy With Florida’s New Law
The SB 1718 will also provide $12 to continue the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program. This system relocates illegal immigrants to sanctuary jurisdictions.
Moreover, the policy bans local governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from issuing identification documents to illegal aliens. It also invalidates all out-of-state driver’s “licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens.”
Furthermore, the anti-immigration bill required hospitals to collect and report healthcare costs for undocumented migrants. “Florida is a dangerous, hostile environment for law-abiding Americans and immigrants,” added Garcia.
In July, the organization plans on filing a lawsuit in federal court. Furthermore, Garcia stated the LULAC will launch a campaign and hire organizers to “punish those politicians who engage in this racism and this xenophobia.”
Wide-Range Impact
While many stand by DeSantis’ signing of the bill, others are highly concerned about the impact it will have on industries vital to Florida’s economy. The current Democratic Party chair, Nikki Fried, is one who believes that illegal migrants are an essential asset for the state’s economy.
“800,000 migrants are going to leave the state of Florida,” Fried stated on MSNBC’s “The ReidOut” show. She told the host, Joy Reid, “I don’t know who is going to be doing the picking of the fields during the harvest and who is building all these new homes for everybody who is moving to our state.”
One of the vital industries Florida’s new law could impact is farming. Prior to DeSantis signing the bill, many workers grew concerned and became scared of going to work. Now that the bill is signed, they are contemplating leaving Florida. This could cause a huge staffing crisis in Florida’s agriculture industry.
Panic Sets in
Immigration attorney Gina Fraga spoke out about the rising concerns growing in the state’s agriculture community. “Everybody is in a panic because nobody knows what’s going to happen,” Fraga stated.
The executive director of the Farmworker Coordinator Council of Palm Beach County, Denise Negron, added, “I’ve been hearing that probably they will not be sending their kids to school, and they are afraid to go to work, and it’s sad.”
Negron explained these are the individuals who do farm and agriculture work that “nobody wants to do.” These are the people “that we have to thank because thanks to them we have food on our tables.”
Some individuals are concerned they could be imprisoned for transporting farm hands to work. “Maybe they don’t have the specific documents that they need right now,” stated Fraga. Unfortunately, there is a backlog of over 10 months for immigrants to receive a work permit.
Migration Policy Institute
Almost 800,000 undocumented individuals live in Florida, according to the migration policy institute. With the signing of SB1718, Florida employers had to tell workers if they didn’t bring valid documentation by July 1, they would have to be terminated.
The industries that will feel the most impact will be construction, hospitality, and the agriculture industry.
Florida Travel Advisory
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s oldest and largest Hispanic organization. They have issued a travel advisory to Florida and have threatened litigation against the state.
During a press conference held Wednesday afternoon, Domingo Garcia, LULAC’s national president, stated the organization believes the state has used “immigrants as political piñatas.” Furthermore, the LULAC feels the state “committed several very cruel, immoral, and unjust” acts against immigrants.
DeSantis’ press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, dismissed the organization’s announcement. In an email, Redfern called the LULAC’s announcement “political stunts.” Saying DeSantis’ administration wasn’t “going to waste time” on their claims. However, they “will continue doing what is right for Floridians.”
Truck Drivers Unite
Following the signing of the anti-immigration bill, truck drivers have flooded social media with videos claiming they are boycotting Florida. One TikToker stated he believed “thousands” of truck drivers across the U.S. were participating.
Some feel the call to boycott Florida is not called for. While many others believe this is the right call. One person on Twitter wrote, “We should all want a path to citizenship for all workers. Full stop. Undocumented workers are the most exploited of all, keeping them undocumented workers doesn’t help anyone, and in fact hurts all workers everywhere.” Others state that Florida runs “suck” and the boycott should be “doable.”
Though it is not confirmed at this time, many believe the boycott will officially begin on June 1. However, some are believed to have started boycotting runs to Florida now.
Social media influencers say they send those who are undocumented to work camps. Where they face unsanitary living situations. These influencers say the migrants who are placed in these camps are “paid cents on the dollar.”
Future of Florida Agriculture
Yvette Cruz from the Farm Workers Association of Florida stated there are many who have called asking what they should do. “They are scared, they are asking about next steps, what to do, should they leave,” stated Cruz.
Individuals in the agribusiness say they are also worried about Florida’s new policy. Between the skyrocketing price of land mixed with a possible labor shortage, they don’t know what the future will hold.
Santra Denis from Miami Workers Center stated, “Florida likes to believe that the economy is not made up of immigrant people.” For example, home health aides, nannies, nurses, care workers, and housekeepers. “Overwhelmingly those are immigrant people,” added Denis. “Imagine if they didn’t come to work. Imagine what impact that would have on our ability to go to work.
A viral TikTok shows a trucker calling for truck drivers to boycott Florida, in response to Ron DeSantis’ anti-immigrant legislation. pic.twitter.com/aOOxy8hSoM
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) May 17, 2023
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
JD Supra: Florida Bill 1718: Potential Impact on Employers and Employees in Florida
WPTV NBC 5: Florida’s new immigration law creates ‘panic’ in agriculture community
Tallahassee Democrat: Florida a ‘dangerous and hostile environment,’ Hispanic organization says in travel warning
Fox News: DeSantis foe Fried claims ‘800,000 migrants’ leaving Florida will cripple economy: No one to pick ‘fields’
NBC 6: ‘We Are Not Criminals’: Farmworker Speaks Out as South Florida Reacts to State’s New Immigration Law
Independent: Are truckers really boycotting Florida over Gov DeSantis’ immigration policies?
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of wistechcolleges‘ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image courtesy of Gage Skidmore‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image by carlos marin Courtesy of asinomaseras‘ Pixabay Page – Creative Commons License
