It is a poorly hidden secret that Florida is very reliant on illegals for a substantial part of its economic activities. DeSanti, for presidential bona fides, decided that the law of the land would now be strictly enforced and that illegal immigrants would find it impossible to work or even get a driving licence in the state. It was seen by the GOP as a low cost high value method of reenforcing the white conservative vote that's rather pissed-off with the GOP strong support for anti-abortion laws.
Well it back fired in a spectacular fashion.
Minorities, who are often harassed by the already well know racist cops have something to rally around. Non-white truckers have in large numbers decided that it was too dangerous to go down to Florida, in a sense they have told their firms that any load to Florida should be transported by white truckers. Now, its not every non-white trucker that are boycotting the state, but its in sufficient numbers that it causing shippers to raise rates and to reduce the number of loads, also they too are concerned, if a trucker is arrested his load is often left on the side of the road and more often then not, it is stolen.
Construction workers have also left the state in great numbers so that now the housing sector is facing labor shortages. The construction industry in many states faces labor shortage, and these kinds of laws often have a huge and long term impact -- once you are established in Georgia or Alabama the opportunity benefits may not exist to return to Florida. Agricultural workers have left in mass for Georgia that is facing its own agricultural labour shortage and welcomed workers with open arms. For Florida farmers its a catastrophe, as their crops lay in-picked. Moreover, insurance companies don't cover spoilage if crop is not picked, so this is a real financial loss to the farmers...they have no recourse (maybe State government will pay...hahaha).
Over the past few days several member of the state house have made speeches -- where they say the law as loopholes that can be exploited by the illegals...imagine that strategy as being a real winner and that they "didn't mean it and it was only to scare the illegals". Really, that's the Florida GOP's strategy: "Hey come back we just wanted to scare you a little". The reality is that the damage is done, many long term Florida resident illegals have already left. BTW the solution is simple, grant these long term resident either work permits or citizenship, but the GOP has been against this, as it would raise the cost of labor (when big business was still their friends).
Some will say that they will soon all be replaced by other illegals, but the reality of illegals in Florida is not that they've been there for a year or two, rather they have been in the US and Florida for 20 or 30 years. Also, Florida is now known worldwide for taking the illegals they find and bundling them on planes to the North East of the US (maybe that's a good thing for shrinking New England...).
What looked like an easy victory to engage the White Christian voters who were deregistering from GOP to independent, has now backfired in the most public way possible. The new law comes into effect this summer (July 1) but already many illegals have decided that Florida really doesn't want them, and making their lives impossible -- as more and more move North, they trend will accelerate, Once the first go, the encourage their friends with potential jobs and places to live.
Also, Illegals are perfectly aware that during catastrophic weather incidents their neighbourhoods were largely ignored. Again, the new law may have been the catalyst that made Florida unattractive enough for these long term residents to move away.
Once they are gone, they are not coming back!
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