Florida Farms in Panic as DeSantis Targets Essential Workers

Photo byPhoto 206416537 © Francisco Blanco

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new law targeting over 800,000 udocumented workers, many of whom are just waiting for their work permits.

The new law sets the stage for state-wide crackdowns in Florida's essential sectors like farming and construction. SB 1718 presrcibes strict penalties for the recruitment or transportation of unauthorized people in the state. It's also requiring Florioda hospitals to verify patients' immigration status.

The state will also stop accepting foreign driver licenses for undocumented people.

Employers and workers in panic

Because of these provisions, some farm employees are already too afraid to report to work and are considering fleeing the state, which might result in a severe workforce shortage for Florida's agricultural industry.

As the nonprofit works to provide social and human assistance to farm laborers, Denise Negron, executive director of the Farmworker Coordinator Council of Palm Beach County, expressed concern for the organization's survival.

Immigration lawyer Gina Fraga said, "Everybody is in a panic because nobody knows what's going to happen."

According to Fraga, the farm, building, and hotel sectors will be the most affected industries.

Agricultural communities are worried about the new law

With the new law's passage, e-Verify employment screening is required for new hires at companies with at least 25 workers to check their legal status, and those who cannot comply will be fined $1,000 per day.

"Obviously, they're very worried because they could be fined, imprisoned by just transporting farm workers that maybe they don't have the specific documents that they need right now," the immigration lawyer said.

Fraga stated that the current problem is that immigration has a backlog of more than ten months of wait time for work permits.

The Migration Policy Institute estimates that Florida is home to nearly 800,000 unauthorized residents.

What do you think about Florida's latest crackdowns?

Leave your comment below and share this story on social media.