dean

Florida’s tough immigration laws are working. Not just politically. Economically. After SB 1718 passed in 2023, critics warned the economy would collapse. They said farmers would go bankrupt, construction would stall, and families would flee the state. But something else happened. Wages rose. In construction, roofing, agriculture, and landscaping, employers who once relied on illegal labor began offering higher pay to attract legal workers. In many cases, Floridians filled the gap. It turns out Americans will take those jobs when the playing field is fair and the wage isn’t being undercut by someone paid in cash. Mandatory E-Verify kicked in. Companies with 25 or more workers now have to confirm new hires are legal. Meanwhile, anyone can call local law enforcement to report illegals because they are all trained immigration officials that must respond per state law. The days of looking the other way are over. That one change alone forced wages back into alignment and created openings for lawful workers. He fought a RINO legislature to enact all of of this. Remittances dropped. Less money is being wired out of Florida to Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras. That’s not just a stat. That’s money staying in the Florida economy, circulating through rent, gas stations, groceries, and small businesses, instead of vanishing overseas. Public spending is stabilizing. Emergency Medicaid claims by undocumented immigrants fell by 11 percent year-over-year. That translates to millions saved in hospital write-offs and state reimbursements. Public school enrollment among non-English-speaking minors dropped in several districts. Less overcrowding. More classroom resources for Florida kids. And here’s the kicker. Unemployment in Florida is still one of the lowest in the country. But job postings in low-wage sectors are up. That means demand exists, but employers are finally doing what they should have done years ago. Raise pay. Stop cheating the system. Compete fairly. Even rents in towns like Immokalee and Homestead are stabilizing. Why? Because the housing squeeze wasn’t just caused by demand. It was also being driven by illegal laborers packed into rental units by the dozen. With fewer people crammed into every house, working-class families are finally finding space. So when Governor @GovRonDeSantis says Florida has the number one economy, he’s not just bragging. He’s referencing facts. • #1 economy in the nation based on growth, employment, and business climate (U.S. News & World Report, 2024) • #1 in new business formation per capita (U.S. Census Bureau) • Top-tier job growth and labor force participation (BLS, 2025) • No state income tax, budget surplus, and record migration (Florida Office of Policy and Budget) The media said DeSantis would destroy Florida’s economy. The opposite is happening and they just can't cope. He removed the invisible subsidy. He ended the scam where cheap labor got hired, public programs picked up the tab, and taxpayers ate the cost. Now the jobs, the wages, and the housing are shifting back to the people who belong here. If you want this where you live, make it known. Call your governor. Email your state legislators. Tag them to this post and share this post with your local reps. Florida proved immigration enforcement isn’t just about border security, it’s economic policy. It raises wages, frees up housing, lowers public costs, and strengthens the middle class. You don’t have to wait for Washington. Your state can do this too. Sources: Florida Policy Institute, 2024 Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, 2024 U.S. News & World Report, 2024 Census Bureau, 2024 Zillow Rent Data, 2024 Miami-Dade and Lee County School District Reports Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025 Florida Office of Policy and Budget, 2025