Here’s how Gov. DeSantis’ new immigration policy could impact Florida economy

On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718 in Jacksonville. This is the latest immigration policy in Florida.

“In Florida, we want businesses to hire citizens and legal immigrants, but we want them to abide by the law and not hire illegal immigrants,” DeSantis said during the event.

When the law takes effect in July, businesses could be fined $10,000 for each employee found to be working illegally, and states could revoke their licenses to operate.

The construction and agricultural sectors rely heavily on illegal workers for their labor force, and some of those workers now fear being laid off.

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“I think if you enter illegally, you’ll just be driven back across the border,” DeSantis said.

Florida Agricultural Workers Association’s Yesica Ramirez puts in perspective how the community is in turmoil right now.

Her colleague acted as an interpreter for News 6 reporter Treasure Roberts.

“I get calls every day this week. I don’t know if I should leave. should i stay? What options do you have?”

The law also stipulates that data will be collected on whether hospitalized patients are legally staying in the country.

“They will be afraid to go to the doctor because of their position,” Ramirez said.

DeSantis said Americans should decide what kinds of immigration would benefit the country, not the other way around.

“No one has the right to immigrate to this country — not even foreigners,” DeSantis said.

Ramirez believes his decisions will ultimately affect the Florida economy.

“So what happens in this state is that there are so many workers working on construction sites and roofing. Who will come and do the work? Who will do the roofing in a really hot July? (Will) do the construction? Who will do this job for the low wages and work that is part of the backbone of the state’s economy?” Ramirez said.

But some experts said the policy could also have a positive impact on the economy.

Sean Snaith is Director of the Economic Forecasting Institute at the University of Central Florida.

He said some companies profit from the availability of illegal workers who are willing to work for less than Americans.

“I think that’s part of the reason there’s not been a real crackdown, sort of, trying to figure out who’s coming into the US and how many,” Snaith said.

He said low-income workers in the United States are being affected by increased labor competition because illegal workers agree to take jobs at low wages.

Snaith said companies would have to pay higher wages to the public if undocumented workers were excluded from the problem.

While this could impact how much consumers pay for goods and services, low-income workers in the United States face higher wages for jobs currently occupied by illegal workers. It can also mean that there is a possibility.

“They will have to pay higher wages to documented workers and citizen workers than those who enter the country illegally and are willing to work for such low wages,” Snaith explained.

Additionally, crackdowns on illegal immigration entering the country could reduce demand for things like housing, food, and medical care, further lowering the cost of living for Florida residents.

“We need food. We need shelter. We need some kind of medical care, so that resource has to come from somewhere,” Snaith said.

This is a particular problem faced by border areas.

“Not everyone crosses Texas and ends up in Iowa,” Snaith said. “So I think the border states are probably facing a lot more problems than the rest of the United States because of this kind of massive influx of people.”

In addition to the economic impact, some of these workers have lived in Florida for decades, Ramirez said. She said she has raised her children here. There’s a whole life here and they want to stay there.

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