TAMPA, Fla. — In less than a month, Florida's new immigration law goes into effect. Lawmakers who back the bill said the goal is to crack down on people entering the country illegally, while critics fear what the new law will mean for immigrant families.
On Saturday, community organizations came together to help families navigate the citizenship process. Since Senate Bill 1718 was passed in May, Susan Migueltorena says many immigrant families she works with are scared and some have even left the country already.
“What that tells me is that they’re not even willing to understand the bill, they just want to get up and leave,” Migueltorena said. “That, in a way, doesn’t help us because a lot of our families that are migrants work in rural areas where vegetation is and it’s all agricultural. What is going to happen to all of that if we don’t have people working those fields?”
Migueltorena helped organize the 2nd annual Adjusting to America event to give families all the information they need to get their legal status in the U.S. Vendors offered free services including health insurance assistance, legal advice and information about educational programs.
“We don’t report to any immigration status,” Migueltorena said. “We are here to educate them and make sure that the families become successful and that they get the correct and proper information to be able to move forward with their immigration paperwork.”
Under the state’s new law, private businesses with 25 or more employees will have to use the E-Verify System to verify the immigration status of employees. In addition, the law will not allow Florida to recognize drivers’ licenses issued exclusively to illegal immigrants. Healthcare providers who accept Medicaid will also have to collect data on the citizenship status of their patients.
Alex Torres, the CEO of Tampa Bay Senior Solutions, said he worries this may deter immigrant families from seeking healthcare.
“We’re talking about this question of what’s going to happen to immigrants that right now they’re not even going that much to the doctor, but now that the law goes into effect, that they might be reported just by going to the doctors to get a checkup,” Torres said. “Or, if they have an emergency, they must just stay at home or try to do it their self because they’re afraid.”
Torres said it’s a confusing time for immigrants and he wants to do all he can to help out. During Saturday’s event, Torres offered his expertise about insurance, Medicaid and other state assistance programs.
“The first thing is taking the first step,” Torres said. “If we can help them get that first step into getting some of the paperwork done and then when the time comes to get them that coverage and one thing will lead to another, you know, one thing at least get that legal residence status.”
Torres and Migueltorena said ultimately, they want to help people prepare themselves and their families and to not feel afraid.