Florida Immigration Law Update – SB 1718 Takes Center Stage
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 1718 into law in May 2023. This made big changes to the state’s immigration policies. This law, which goes into effect on July 1, 2023, is in response to the expected rise in immigration after the limits put in place under Title 42 during the COVID pandemic are lifted.
Impact on Immigrant Families – A Closer Look at SB 1718 Provisions
SB 1718 makes big changes that could affect more than just illegal immigrants. They could also affect Florida’s 1.8 million noncitizen immigrants. This broad group, which makes up more than 8% of the state’s population, includes both legal residents and people who are not in the country legally. The law’s effects are especially important for mixed-status immigrant families, whose children were born in the U.S.
Health Ramifications – Fears and Consequences for Immigrant Communities
The law could have effects on immigrant families that go beyond their legal situation, including on their health and well-being. Families in these situations may not get the medical care they need because they are afraid and because hospitals are now required to collect information about immigrants. Trying to avoid these situations could be bad for everyone’s health, including illegal people and people born in the U.S.
Economic Ripples – SB 1718’s Early Effects on Florida’s Workforce and Industries
Florida’s economy has already been affected by SB 1718, even though it hasn’t been fully put into effect yet. Long-term workers and customers who used to go to public places but now don’t because they’re afraid are leaving local businesses, especially those that serve food. Agriculture and building are also being affected, with reports of construction sites that have been left empty and threats of trucker boycotts in the state.
Workforce Dynamics – Noncitizen Immigrants and Florida’s Labor Landscape
Looking at the effects on the workforce, about three quarters of noncitizen immigrants in Florida who are not retired are working, which is about the same as the percentage of citizen immigrants who are working. Noncitizen immigrants make up 11% of the state’s non-elderly adult workforce as a whole, but they are more important in some industries than others. For example, they are 37% of the workforce in agriculture, 23% in building, 14% in service, and 14% in transportation. The possible loss of people in these fields could hurt the economy in a bigger way.
Beyond Florida – Broader Legislative Landscape and Implications
In order to police immigration laws in border counties, Texas is thinking about passing a bill that would create a special unit for that purpose. The House recently passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which includes steps like limiting who can get refuge and starting to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Since immigration is still a controversial topic, it is important to know how policies will affect the economy and health in the long run, since immigrants are an important part of the country’s population and employment.
