Earlier this month, Gov. DeSantis signed legislation producing sweeping modifications to immigration laws in Florida.
Supporters say the modifications will aid curb illegal immigration, although immigration advocates say it sends a message that immigrants are not welcome in Florida.
According to the National Sheriffs’ Association, illegal immigration is unsustainable from a safety and financial standpoint.
Sadaf Knight, CEO of the Florida Policy Institute, breaks down how immigrants influence our economy and how responses to the new law could influence you.
Listen to the complete conversation in the player above.
Florida Policy Institute
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Florida Policy Institute
Sadaf Knight is the CEO of the Florida Policy Institute.
Effect on the economy and you
Viral videos of folks speaking out against Florida’s new immigration laws have some worried about the influence on the economy.
Primarily based on the Florida Policy Institute’s study, Knight mentioned these new laws could expense the state $12.six billion in GDP in 1 year.
She adds that shoppers could really feel that loss when they go to the retailer.
“A lot of the goods and solutions that you rely on on a day to day basis may well turn out to be far more high priced or may well turn out to be much less obtainable.”
But, supporters of the new immigration laws say the bill may well bring some relief to residents.
In a statement sent to WMFE, the Federation for American Immigration Reform mentioned, “Illegal immigration fees Florida taxpayers more than $eight billion dollars annually, which means each and every household has a monetary burden of just beneath a thousand dollars. These charges come from education, legal, healthcare, and all other costs connected with supporting illegal immigrants in Floridian communities.”
Nevertheless, Knight mentioned undocumented workers also place cash back into the economy.
“Regardless of whether or not you have been granted legal status, you are nonetheless paying your taxes. And we have an estimate from a couple of years ago, displaying that undocumented immigrants contributed nearly $600 million annually to Florida state and regional taxes.”
She adds that Florida’s new immigration laws will have a considerable influence on the economy as it creates a culture of worry, which could influence no matter if folks continue to move to the state to function.
“Currently we’re seeing on social media, and even in news reports, folks are just deciding to leave and not show up for function since there is a culture of worry and a chilling impact,” Knight mentioned. “Regardless of what it says especially in the bill, there is the broader implications of how it tends to make folks really feel.”
Demographics
According to the Florida Policy Institute, far more than 1 in 5 residents in the state are immigrants.
Knight mentioned that represents 21% of the state’s population at four.three million folks.
“In Central Florida as properly, we have a considerable immigrant population, representing about 15% of the population. And in some counties it is a great deal far more. For instance, in Orange County, it is 22% of the population.”
She adds in Florida, the prime 5 nations exactly where immigrants are coming from are Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica.
“We essentially have the second highest share of Black immigrants in the United States. New York is the state that has the highest.”
When you appear at the makeup of Florida’s economy, Knight mentioned there is a considerable presence of immigrants in important industries.
She points to the COVID-19 pandemic exactly where far more than 1 in 4 frontline workers in Florida have been immigrants.
“These are in sectors like overall health care, youngster care, social solutions, and transit, and all the different distinct frontline industries.”
She adds that the state also relies on 150,000 to 200,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers annually.
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