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The dreaded law SB 1718, which severely punishes immigrants undocumented immigrants and those who help them, came into force this Saturday in Florida amid protests and calls to unite and use the vote to combat what Latino leaders defined as an “attack from the extreme right.”
“Today is a very important day because the Florida is down attack. We are being victims of a governor who has used and continues to use the state as a political platform to send a strong far-right message.”stressed Soraya Marquezdirector of My Family Votes in this state, during the Convention of Migration Mexico, Central and South America which is celebrated this Saturday in Miami.
The objective of this meeting convened by different pro-immigrant organizations is to define “an action plan with specific strategies and objectives” against SB 1718 and the governor’s policies Ron DeSantis.
In addition, for later there are calls for demonstrations against the SB 1718 in a dozen cities of Floridaalthough it is likely that fewer people will participate than in those of previous days, since the law is already in force and there are “fear” in the community, one of the organizers told EFE.
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FEAR OF PROTESTING
He “fear” of undocumented immigrants, which has led many to leave already Floridais just one of the effects of this law promoted by DeSantiswho aspires to to be president of the USA and is already in the campaign to be elected the Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential elections.
However, the detective Argemis Colomespokesperson for Miami Dade County Police Departmentwho attended the Migration Conventiontold EFE that the law “does not change much” the work of the agents of that police force.
According to Colomé, the legal team of the Miami Dade Police Department they have only found one aspect of the law that obliges them to act differently than they did and that is that bringing an undocumented immigrant to Florida from another state, even if it’s a relativeIt is considered a second degree felony.
Before, in a case like this, the agents had to call the state agencies that are in charge of irregular immigration, said Colomé.
“The Police are not going to ask about your immigration status if they stop you for some reason. traffic matter nor to anyone who is going to denounce that they have been the victim of a crime”, asserted Colome.
“The law is going to impact the person who is committing a crimenot the person who is working, not the person who is in their car, not the friends or families who do not have papers and are with you”he asserted.
However, the detective acknowledged that he could not assure how the Police Departments of other counties, nor the sheriffs of all Florida.
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EXODUS AND ECONOMY
The new law, which signs part of a package of more than 200 approved this year by the Florida Congress among them also some others of an ultra-conservative nature, obliges companies with more than 25 workers to use an official status verification program migratoryof each, under penalty of fines and loss of license.
In addition, hospitals that accept public health insurance (Medicaid) must ask and record whether or not their patients are legal residents.
One of the messages that was heard the most during the convention, which was attended by the Consul General of Mexico in Miami, Jonathan Chaitis that the so-called law “anti-immigrantsIt doesn’t just affect them “but to all the people who live in the state.”
The undocumented, who, according to what he said marquez to EFE there are more than a million in Floridaare essential for the three sectors that move the economy, agriculture, construction and tourism, in which the shortage of labor caused by the exodus of workers from Florida around two Carolinas and Georgia.
The result for Floridians is summed up in one word: more expensive, said the board of MI Familia Vota.
Héctor Sánchez Barba, president and executive director of the same organization, stressed that civic participation and the creation of a Latino political power is the best solution to face “racist and extremist” attacks that “they are not new”.
In the opinion of marquezthis is the moment to create a movement that integrates the entire community to stop the feet of DeSantis in the next elections to which he stands, whether they are 2024 presidential or those of 2026 to renew the position as governor.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
