Immigration could be a cornerstone of DeSantis’ campaign

Pro-immigrant groups fear the consequences, for these workers and for themselves Florida economywhich may account for the fact that Gov. Ron DeSantis has made fighting illegal immigration a cornerstone of his campaign ahead of the 2024 election.

DeSantis has officially filed his candidacy for republican primaries and later in a conversation with businessman Elon Musk on Twitter, he presented his election program in which undocumented immigrants play an unexpected role.

“Our border is a disaster,” says the governor in his first official campaign video, a message he reiterated in a substantive launch of his candidacy that Wednesday on Twitter, where he pointed out in a conversation with Musk that the southern border NOW “collapse” and drugs “flow into the country.

He Governor of Floridawho according to polls is far behind former President Donald Trump, the clear favorite to win the primaries, is the promoter of one of the strictest laws against illegal immigration that goes into effect on July 1.

It goes without saying that if it reaches White House will try to expand that rule, SB 1718, nationwide, though it will first have to pass an acid test in Florida, a state that depends heavily on undeclared work in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and construction.

“The law has not even entered into force SB 1718promoted by Governor DeSantis, has already made a human and economic impact on the people of Florida,” Juan Flores, president of the September 15 Foundation, told EFE, which organized the next event on June 1 in Tampa, on the west coast of Florida. protest against “this racist and inhumane law.

“We are not doing any harm to the governor, it is the immigrants who are doing the work that the North Americans are not doing,” the Honduran complained in statements to EFE. Carolina Perez, 26 years old and that he has been living without papers in the USA for a year and a half.

This hotel cleaner in Miami admits she’s afraid and says she and other co-workers are considering moving to another state with less strict immigration laws.

SACRIFICE GOATS

After he officially learned of the intentions DeSantis to reach White House, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) He noted that “DeSantis’ anti-immigrant crusade” in Florida, home to 4.5 million foreigners and the nation’s third most diverse state, “makes clear his inability to lead.”

“Instead of focusing on solving problems that harm Floridians, he has resorted to attacking and vilifying immigrants and using our communities as scapegoats,” added the organization, which reminded that SB 1718 provides up to 15 years in prison for living with undeclared family member or transport.

In the past months, the governor of Florida did not miss the opportunity to denigrate the immigration policy of the administration of US President Joe Biden, and he promised to send state security forces to the southern border again, as he did in 2021.

DeSantis he sought media attention last year when he chartered fifty Venezuelans who had just crossed the southern border from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.

According to Beatriz López, political director Immigration Center, Florida is already feeling the economic consequences of the governor’s extreme policies, with labor shortages and job vacancies due to the growing fear of immigrants due to SB 1718.

“DeSantis has made anti-immigrant policies a cornerstone of his presidential campaign, even as the state of Florida, its workers, businesses and economy suffer,” Lopez said.

immigrant Carolina Perez said they had their eyes on him President Bidenwhich has been asked to expand the benefits and scope of the Temporary Protection Program that the US operates for the benefit of some Hondurans.

A young undocumented woman says yes DeSantis will have to “swim against the current” to reach the White House. “But I doubt he will become president, Trump is ahead of him,” he added.