With President-elect Donald Trump set to declare a national emergency for the mass deportation of undocumented migrants, Florida stands on the brink of significant disruption. As many as 1.1 million residents, or about 5% of the state’s population, live without legal permission, posing a severe challenge for communities and the local economy.
The potential impact of Trump’s immigration policies is particularly stark in Miami-Dade County, where 70% of the population identifies as Hispanic. Despite this demographic, the county saw a strong showing for Trump in the November elections. Juan Carlos Gomez, an immigration expert from Florida International University College of Law, expressed concern over the economic and familial consequences of such mass deportations. “Add these programs up, and we have real issues here in Florida,” Gomez said. He highlighted the fear among those potentially affected and questioned the broader implications for crime and job availability as suggested by Trump.
Trump has reiterated his plans to declare undocumented immigration a national emergency, intending to deploy the military for deportation efforts. Reports from the American Immigration Council depict the enormity of such a task: it could cost taxpayers $315 billion to remove the estimated 13.3 million undocumented immigrants across the U.S., many of whom reside in Florida, Texas, and California. “Every American taxpayer would shoulder the fiscal burden of mass deportations,” the report concluded, forecasting a devastated labor market as a result.
Florida has already tasted the effects of stringent immigration enforcement. Governor Ron DeSantis’s recent law penalizes employers for hiring undocumented labor and denies undocumented individuals the right to a driver’s license. This has led to a workforce exodus from key industries like agriculture, construction, and tourism, exacerbating the state’s already significant labor shortage.
Despite the looming threat, Florida’s Republican legislative leaders have deferred responsibility to federal authorities. New legislative heads, like House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, have been non-committal about addressing the deportation impact, citing it as a federal issue.
Economically, Florida stands to lose significantly from these deportations. Undocumented immigrants in the state contribute over $1.8 billion in taxes annually. This financial input aids in funding various federal programs from which undocumented workers are excluded. Removing these workers could dismantle this fiscal structure, according to a report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
The human cost is equally troubling. The American Immigration Council found that 39% of undocumented households own homes, putting approximately 1.6 million property owners at risk. Furthermore, mixed-status families, which could number around four million, face potential separation. Voluntary self-deportation is another predicted outcome, with 20% of the targeted individuals possibly choosing to leave the U.S. under pressure from policies.
Trump’s rhetoric, like his rally speech at Madison Square Garden, emphasizes his intention to “launch the largest deportation program in American history.” Florida, where undocumented residents pay a higher tax proportion than the wealthiest citizens due to sales tax, faces a unique economic and social challenge. The Institute on Taxation’s studies further reveal discrepancies in tax contributions, where undocumented workers pay an average of 7.9% of their income compared to 2.7% by the top earners.
The proposed deportation plans could have far-reaching consequences for Florida, touching both economic and social spheres. As lawmakers defer to federal decisions, the state must prepare for potential upheaval across various sectors. Significant tax contributions and community structures face risks of dismantlement, urging a close examination of the broader implications.
Source: News-journalonline
