Migrant workers in Florida are reportedly leaving the state due to a new law that restricts driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. The controversial law, which went into effect on Saturday, no longer recognizes driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants from other states. This law is part of a larger immigration bill signed by Republican Florida governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis in May.
The implementation of the new law has sparked protests from immigrant workers in various industries, including tourism, hospitality, and agriculture. Yvette Cruz with the Farmworkers Association of Florida stated that they have received reports of migrant workers abandoning fields and construction projects. She predicts that more workers will leave as the law takes effect.
In addition to the driver’s license restrictions, the law also includes harsh penalties for those who hire or transport undocumented migrants, potentially including family members. It also requires hospitals that receive Medicaid funds to inquire about a patient’s immigration status.
Governor DeSantis argues that this legislation is necessary due to what he perceives as the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border. He recently stated during a campaign rally that the illegal immigration problem would not exist if there weren’t people facilitating it in the country.
The new law has raised concerns among farmworkers like Ofelia Aguilar, who is undocumented but has U.S. citizen children, including an 8-year-old son. Aguilar fears being separated from her son and has refrained from seeking medical care for a back injury out of fear of being asked about her immigration status.
The Florida Policy Institute estimates that nearly 10% of workers in Florida’s most labor-intensive industries are undocumented. This has left both employers and workers uncertain about the future implications of the new law.
The law is one of over 200 signed by Governor DeSantis that took effect on Saturday, impacting various areas such as abortion, education, and guns
What are the potential consequences of the new law for both employers and undocumented workers in Florida
Migrant workers are reportedly leaving Florida as a result of a new law that places restrictions on driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. This controversial law, which went into effect recently, no longer recognizes driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants from other states. It is part of a larger immigration bill that was signed by Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in May.
The implementation of this new law has sparked protests from immigrant workers across industries such as tourism, hospitality, and agriculture. Yvette Cruz from the Farmworkers Association of Florida has stated that they have received reports of migrant workers leaving fields and construction projects. She predicts that more workers will leave as the law takes effect.
In addition to the driver’s license restrictions, the law also includes severe penalties for those who hire or transport undocumented migrants, potentially impacting their family members. It also requires hospitals receiving Medicaid funds to inquire about a patient’s immigration status.
Governor DeSantis argues that this legislation is necessary due to what he perceives as the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border. He recently mentioned during a campaign rally that the issue of illegal immigration would not exist if there were no people facilitating it within the country.
The new law has raised concerns among farmworkers like Ofelia Aguilar, who is undocumented but has U.S. citizen children. Aguilar worries about being separated from her son and has refrained from seeking medical care for a back injury out of fear of being asked about her immigration status.
The Florida Policy Institute estimates that nearly 10% of workers in Florida’s most labor-intensive industries are undocumented. Both employers and workers are uncertain about the future implications of this new law.
This law is one of over 200 signed by Governor DeSantis that recently took effect, impacting various areas including abortion, education, and guns.
