TAMPA, Fla. — Immigrants make up 21% of Florida’s population, with many of them holding jobs in construction and agriculture, that’s according to the migration policy institute, a non-partisan organization that tracks migration policy in north America and Europe.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the Migration Policy Institute Immigrants make up 21% of Florida’s population
  • Pastor Carlos Irizarry says he’s seen the impact SB1718 is having on the Wimauma community
  • Wholesome Church in Wimauma is ensuring it’s community is informed through events and professionals that know about the law

Florida’s new immigration law was signed back in May and has prompted some undocumented immigrants to leave the state. It’s set to take effect on Saturday.

The law 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

Sharing his love of God and giving back to the community is something Pastor Carlos Irizarry has been doing in Wimauma for 15 years.

“I believe God brought missions here to Wimauma and so we are taking care of our own backyard,” he said.

Over the last several years, the church has held health fairs, bringing people of different backgrounds together, to learn about the resources offered to them. “They have to have access to health in order to be healthy,” he said.

It’s why Carlos says each time there’s an event, they go out into the community. But he says this year’s outreach was met with a different outcome.

“This is the place that we found where maybe 20 of these trailers that were empty and they are already removing some of them,” he said as he gave us a tour of the Wimauma community, a place that Carlos recalls being full of families.

But now, there’s emptiness. He said it’s because many people have left, due to fear of the implications of the new immigration law. Carlos says their goal is to make sure everyone is informed about what the law entails, whether that be through word of mouth or at their events.

“I said there’s got to be something that I can do. This is not going to be a just another health fair. We have to make a difference and speak louder,” he said.

Carlos says people in church spoke to were leaving for New Jersey and other places where they could find work. We reached out to see if those families leaving would like to talk, but they declined.