Floridians Gather Across the State to Protest Law Targeting Undocumented Immigrants
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A controversial Florida law that became effective on Saturday has caused an uproar among immigrant workers and their families.
The law, signed by Republican Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis in May, eliminates the recognition of driver's licenses issued by other states to undocumented immigrants. Furthermore, the legislation carries severe consequences for those attempting to employ or transport undocumented migrants, as well as requires hospitals that receive Medicaid money to inquire about a patient's immigration status.
"We are hearing people are starting to leave. We're just gonna keep seeing that more as the law will take effect." Yvette Cruz with the Farmworkers Association of Florida said.
DeSantis states that this measure is necessary due to what he considers Biden's administration's failure to protect the borders. The law has caused fear among people like Ofelia Aguilar, an undocumented individual with U.S. citizen children. The farmworker fears she could be separated from them. She even failed to seek medical care for a back injury she sustained from falling off a truck, out of fear of being asked about her immigration status.
"I'm not going to leave my son behind," Aguilar said. "If I leave, my son is coming with me."
Around 10% of workers in Florida's most labour-demanding industries are undocumented, leading to both employers and employees being uncertain about what the new ruling will bring. On Saturday, Governor DeSantis approved more than 200 laws which will affect areas such as abortion, schooling and firearms.
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Its political season,😁😁😁 ...Immigration issue always a leverage to gain support & votes esp from oldtymers, once voting is over wait & 5 yrs on same topic
This is what turned California BLUE when Gov Pete Wilson brought about proposition 187 in California?
When have whites worked for themselves? They imported Africans and got free labor for centuries and now refugees and Mexicans do the hard jobs for them. Shenzi sana
Passing alaw is one thing,and enforcing it another.If these new laws are enforced, the hospitality industry,and the agicultutral will bear the brunt of the illeffects.Obviosly both the employer and the illegal employee are worried to death...
80% of tomatoes, strawberries,and citrus fruits in Florida are picked by undocumented workers.Minimum wage in Florida was supposed to increase from 8.65 to 12 dollars per hour in 2023.Undocumented are usually paid below 8 dollars an hour saving the employer in taxes and wages.Most of florida local workers would want to be paid at least 15 dollars an hour to do this back breaking work in the fields.
This is a tough one. We shall see how it unfolds,because agood number of these undocumented workers have american kids.There has been clamour about doing away with law that makes kids born to illegals "legal' if born on american soil,but that would take an act of congress.
Well, let me had to the beach...and think more about this.No Iam not affected,but I have a lot of friends,and lawyers dealing with this issue,so I empathize.