WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — An organization in Polk County is leading a march Saturday in Winter Haven to protest a recently passed Florida immigration bill and organizers say they expect a large turnout.

What You Need To Know

  • Young American Dreamers is holding a demonstration against Senate Bill 1718 on Saturday 

  • The law, which takes effect in July, requires companies with at least 25 employees to use the E-Verify system to ensure their workers are eligible to work in the United States

  • Organizers say they expect about 500 people to attend

  • The demonstrators will start the march at noon and wall more than four miles to a nearby church

  • Following the march, the group will host a forum titled, "Know Your Rights"

The stack of signs at the offices of the Young American Dreamers took some work, according to Hilario Barajas.

“We made 75 yesterday,” he said.

But he says that’s just a drop in the bucket compared to the number of people he anticipates will join him and the Young American Dreamers Saturday afternoon on Highway 17.

The group is organizing a march to protest Florida's Senate Bill 1718, which goes into effect in July. The measure requires companies in Florida with at least 25 employees to use the E-Verify system to ensure their workers are eligible to work in the United States. Companies that do not comply or who have employees who don't have the proper documentation to be in the United States can face fines or penalties.

Barajas said he is expecting about 500 demonstrators to make a journey of more than 4 miles on Highway 17 to the mission of Guadalupe church in Wahneta.

“We feel very strongly about what we’re doing,” he said.

Barajas said Young American Dreamers was started in 2010 by his daughter, Maria Isabel, who was just 19 at the time. He said she sadly died two years later in 2012.

In the 13 years since its founding, he says the organization has grown and is full of kids ranging from elementary school to college, who have relatives that they say will be affected by Senate Bill 1718.

“It’s affected the worker, the boss man, the crew leader, the companies, everybody — the businesses,” Barajas said.

Barajas said the group wasn't planning on doing anything on Saturday, but after receiving a large number of calls and requests, they decided to organize the march.

“They understand the problem,” said Barajas. “We’re going to fight this together.”

Starting at the street that’s dedicated to the organization that Barajas' daughter started, organizers with the Young American Dreamers say they are hoping this demonstration will showcase their message against Senate Bill 1718.

That demonstration starts at noon and will end at the Mission of Guadalupe with a forum they’re titling, “Know Your Rights.”