As of 2019, one in every five Florida residents was an Immigrant. In Florida, foreigners make up more than a fifth of the population. Huge communities built on the backbone of Cubans, Haitians, Mexicans, and dozens of other South American collectives.
This melting pot of organizations and individuals gift Florida with parts of its charms. They are intrinsically linked to the State’s traditions, societal makeup, and a booming economy. Immigrants are in many cases the cornerstones of some areas and their immeasurable contribution to their neighborhood is invaluable.
Nonetheless, State Policy in this department has hardened over the years and many feel that their rights have been stripped. Immigration, legal or otherwise, is a pressing issue in South Florida and in many cases a concern that keeps families and individuals awake.
Facts On Immigrants in Florida
- Almost 4.4 million immigrants call Florida their home. More than 60% of them are located in South Florida.
- As of 2016, more than 800,000 lawful residents living in the state were eligible to naturalize. Only a small percentage were actually aware of this benefit.
- Florida, as of that 2016 census, had over 650 thousand undocumented immigrants. Half had lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years, and a staggering percentage had been in the country for more than 20. Some, not all, had rights and services they were unaware of due to their longevity in the United States.
- Immigrants pay taxes. Immigrant households pay over 26 billion dollars in state, local, and Federal Taxes. Undocumented immigrants paid over 1.6 billion in those same taxes in 2017. As a whole, Immigrants are an economic powerhouse within the state’s makeup; their contributions keep the local government’s lights on.
- Immigrants in Florida are more likely to participate in the national workforce than U.S. born citizens.
- Immigrant owned businesses in Florida employ over 847,000 workers.
- Immigrants make up a substantial share of Florida’s healthcare system. 42% of health aides and 24% of nurses.
- Berries, citruses, and melons – the driving forces of Florida’s agricultural stable – are harvested by over 19 thousand legal immigrants. Florida is nationally ranked number 1 for its untold numbers of certified temporary H2-A work visas.
- The cost to the taxpayer of dealing with “the illegal immigrant problem” is approximately 3.8 billion dollars on a yearly basis. Compare that price tag to the aforementioned tax-revenues, and work benefits to the Florida market that immigrants – undocumented or lawful – bring.
These statistics tell a story. They tell a story of a state that cherishes it immigrants and one, that in spite of all the bad press, understands the value of such an economic force.
An Immigrant’s Right
Immigrants in Florida fill seasonal work needs, they line the Federal and state coffers, and in fact, shaped the Sunshine State into what it is now. Florida is one of the largest growing states in the nation; not only in population density but economic power. This rapid climb is partly the fault of immigrants. Immigrants are both employees as well as employers.
Immigration policy within the State is a chaotic and oftentimes misleading tangle of red-tape and Federal restrictions; one that’s constantly at the forefront of National discussions and policies. The one thing that’s certain is that immigrants have rights. Even as the political pendulum swings and some area’s of the country adopt stricter laws, immigrants in Florida still retain certain privileges and advantages.
Florida is not the battleground of naturalization and US immigration enforcement many believe it to be. That is why it is important to seek legal counsel and expert advice when faced with an immigration issue.
A great lawyer will give you professional and knowledgable aid on some of the more complicated legal procedures concerning this judicial milestone. They will help guide you through the process. They will meet deadlines on time, every time.
A lawyer’s responsibility is to help you win your case. With a well-versed immigration lawyer, you’ll be giving yourself the very best chance of success, vastly improving your likelihood of being treated properly by the authorities.
That is the primary reason why Gonzalez Law is announcing its immigration services. If you need well-founded advice and legal aid from a firm with over 20 years of experience, please get in contact with us at +1 (786) 358-6888.