Civil Rights Groups Warn Anti-Immigrant Bills Are Bad for Florida’s Economy

The Florida state Senate is expected to vote as early as today on S.B. 2040, a bill similar to Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070 anti-immigrant law. If enacted, the Florida law would require employers to use a flawed and costly database to verify the immigration status of all employees and encourage police to engage in aggressive immigration enforcement targeting anyone suspected of being in the state without documentation.

National civil rights organizations are cautioning Florida legislators through letters, phone calls, and other communications to consider the cost and consequences of following in Arizona’s footsteps.

“The shameful irony here is that lawmakers in the Sunshine State must today decide whether or not to force their own constituents into the shadows of society,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “This legislation offers a false solution to Florida’s problems that comes attached with a host of negative consequences. It discourages tourism and economic growth, encourages racial profiling, adds millions of dollars to the cost of law enforcement, demonizes entire communities, and puts an unconscionably high price on human dignity.” 

According to the Florida Immigrant Coalition, legislation targeting immigrant communities that contribute to the economy as consumers, workers, and taxpayers could cost the state more than $45 billion in economic activity and revenue losses.

Instead of moving forward with costly anti-immigrant legislation, civil rights groups have encouraged state and federal lawmakers to push for comprehensive immigration reform legislation in Congress that provides a path to citizenship for undocumented workers, reduces family visa backlogs, ramps up enforcement while respecting civil rights and liberties, and protects the rights of workers regardless of immigration status.