Earlier this month, Gov. DeSantis signed legislation generating sweeping modifications to immigration laws in Florida.

Supporters say the modifications will support curb illegal immigration, though 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 effect our economy and how responses to the new law could effect 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.

Influence on the economy and you

Viral videos of persons speaking out against Florida’s new immigration laws have some worried about the effect 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 a single year.

She adds that buyers 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 possibly turn out to be far more high-priced or may possibly turn out to be significantly less out there.”

But, supporters of the new immigration laws say the bill may possibly 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 economic burden of just beneath a thousand dollars. These charges come from education, legal, healthcare, and all other costs linked with supporting illegal immigrants in Floridian communities.”

Even so, Knight mentioned undocumented workers also place funds back into the economy.

“Whether or not or not you have been granted legal status, you happen to be nonetheless paying your taxes. And we have an estimate from a couple of years ago, displaying that undocumented immigrants contributed practically $600 million annually to Florida state and nearby taxes.”

She adds that Florida’s new immigration laws will have a important effect on the economy as it creates a culture of worry, which could influence whether or not persons continue to move to the state to function.

“Currently we’re seeing on social media, and even in news reports, persons are just deciding to leave and not show up for function for the reason that 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 persons really feel.”

Demographics

According to the Florida Policy Institute, far more than a single in 5 residents in the state are immigrants.

Knight mentioned that represents 21% of the state’s population at four.three million persons.

“In Central Florida as nicely, we have a important immigrant population, representing about 15% of the population. And in some counties it really is significantly far more. For instance, in Orange County, it really is 22% of the population.”

She adds in Florida, the best 5 nations exactly where immigrants are coming from are Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica.

“We truly 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 important presence of immigrants in important industries.

She points to the COVID-19 pandemic exactly where far more than a single in 4 frontline workers in Florida have been immigrants.

“These are in sectors like wellness care, youngster care, social solutions, and transit, and all the many unique frontline industries.”

She adds that the state also relies on 150,000 to 200,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers annually.

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