The controversial and ambitious immigration law introduced by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in February has been approved by the state legislature. Photo: AP
Meanwhile, concerns are growing among immigrants in Florida On July 1, 2023, the tough new illegal immigration law signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis will go into effect.
Under this measure, anyone transporting an illegal entry person could face a five-year prison sentence or a $5,000 fine per person.
It also requires companies with 25 or more employees to verify workers’ immigration status against a federal database called E-Verify, and penalizes employers who knowingly employ “unlawful aliens.”
There is already concern and confusion among Florida’s immigrant communities.
Neza Xiuhtecutli of the Florida Farm Workers Association told CNN that some immigrants are concerned that the law “makes them more vulnerable and exposes them to exploitation.”
Xiuhtecutli says he can’t confirm rumors that workers are avoiding Florida en masse, but says he’s heard reports that some on a smaller scale have chosen to stay out.
Several social media posts have also surfaced claiming to advertise vacancies in places and on farms where immigrants traditionally work.
Posts appeared on TikTok by people posing as Latino truckers refusing to ship goods to Florida in protest of the new law.
According to the Immigration Policy Institute, the measure could affect an estimated more than 770,000 undocumented immigrants living in Florida. The construction sector could be hit the hardest.
Florida Immigrant Coalition Associate Director Renata Bozzetto told CNN that “we are still working with our affiliates to determine the scope of these social media reports.”
“We know the bill has indeed terrified the community: multiple people are reaching out to our hotline, social media, and hotlines with questions and comments. However, we have not received any reports from business people or farmers on this issue,” explained Bozzetto.
A caravan has arrived in the state to protest the situation and raise awareness. The caravan left California on the 23rd and also traveled through the states of Arizona and Texas, even through the desert. The callers have called for a strike and a refusal to buy Florida-made items for several days. The goal: to show solidarity with the immigrants affected by the law and to draw attention to the effects of the law.
What does the new law against illegal immigrants in Florida say?
The controversial and ambitious immigration law introduced by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in February has been approved by the state legislature. According to DeSantis The law will serve to address the growing threat of illegal immigration resulting from the failure of the Joe Biden administration to secure the borders, the governor said.
On the one hand, the law aims to provide $12 million for DeSantis’ controversial migrant flight program, which received national publicity after around 50 immigrants were flown from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, on a flight last September with the assistance of planes sent from Florida .
In addition, the law provides criminal sanctions for anyone who hides, harbors, transports or protects anyone who has entered the United States illegally.
It also states that some driver’s licenses and ID cards issued by other states to undocumented immigrants are not valid in Florida.
Some hospitals are required to request information about patients’ immigration status in admissions records and are increasing the maximum penalty for employing, hiring, or referring illegal immigrants to public or private positions.
Democrats attempted to smooth over the bill’s most contentious points by introducing a series of amendments that the Republican majority in the state House of Representatives later rejected.
(With information from CNN in Spanish)
see also
Ron DeSantis begins his candidacy for the White House amid ridicule and protests