Despite the slowdown in population growth in the U.S. and its becoming negative in some states, Florida’s population has been growing every year. More recently, the growth of remote work has allowed many to live wherever they want, and the warmer temperatures and the absence of state income tax have attracted millions of people to the state of Florida. Today, it is among the top three states in the U.S. with the most immigrants. According to the Florida Policy Institute, more than one in five residents in the state is an immigrant, representing 21% of the state’s population, with 4.3 million people. Adding to the significance of the substantial presence of immigrants in key industries substantially affects the economy.
On the other hand, in May of this year, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida signed the Senate Bill into law, effective July 1, 2023. The legislation makes radical changes to the state’s immigration policies in response to the anticipated growth in immigration activity at the border following the end of Title 42 restrictions.
Among other actions, the law requires hospitals to collect information on immigration status, imposes sanctions for hiring undocumented immigrants, expands employment verification screening requirements to all employers with 25 or more employees, invalidates driver’s licenses of undocumented immigrants outside the state, establishes criminal penalties for transporting undocumented immigrants to the state, increases funding for relocating or transporting immigrants to other parts of the U.S., and expands the authority of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to enforce immigration law.
In total, there are about 1.8 million non-citizen immigrants in Florida (including legal and undocumented immigrants), constituting more than 8% of the state’s population.
There are varied opinions on what might happen from July in Florida, i.e., whether there will be a significant dispersion of immigrants to other states. But one thing is certain: Florida remains the favorite state for Brazilian immigrants.
Immigration lawyer Ingrid Domingues McConville, who recently visited Brazil, states that almost the entire time she was there, she was approached by a large number of people wanting to immigrate to the United States. It was noted that people are highly qualified and eligible for various types of visas, especially the EB2-NIW visa, which allows obtaining residence for those with exceptional skills or a university degree with years of experience.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 300,000 Brazilians live in Florida, and the proximity of the southern part of the state to Brazil and the established Latin culture are some of the attractions for Brazilian investors and those seeking a better and more peaceful quality of life. Additionally, Brazilians are impacting the economy of southern Florida and are present, especially in the real estate sector, business development, tourism, and exports.
For more information, visit https://instagram.com/dmvisalaw?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Ingrid Domingues-McConville founded DM VISA LAW – Domingues McConville, P.A. in 1995. She has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1995 and a member of the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. Ingrid earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. With 28 years of experience in Immigration Law, Ingrid has represented clients throughout the United States and worldwide, addressing both business and family immigration matters. She has helped companies and individuals obtain visas and permanent residency in the United States. Ingrid plays a significant role in the Brazilian community in South Florida and throughout the United States, providing much-needed guidance and legal advice.