麻豆蜜桃AV

Florida Immigration Policies Project

The Florida Immigration Policies Project is a collaborative research study conducted by researchers at the Im/migrant Well-Being Research Center in the College of Arts and Sciences at the 麻豆蜜桃AV (麻豆蜜桃AV). It was supported by a grant made by the 麻豆蜜桃AV College of Arts and Sciences, Centers and Institutes. We thank several non-profit organizations for supporting our recruitment efforts, such as Faith in Florida, Mujeres Restauradas por Dios, Hispanic Services Council, and NicerFL. 

Study Goals

Primary Objective:

• To investigate how Florida's immigration policies affect immigrants' well-being, focusing on:
  • Access to services like healthcare and education
  • Social integration and participation in the community
  • Employment opportunities and financial stability
  • Psychological well-being in light of policy changes 

The project team surveyed immigrants from Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Spain, Trinidad/Caribbean Islands, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam to understand the effects of Florida鈥檚 Senate Bill 1718, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023. 

We hope to share the insights of our findings with policy-makers, advocates, counselors, the academic community, and community members to address the needs and experiences of immigrants as they adapt to this law.

Key Findings from the Survey

• Economic Impact: Many immigrants reported heightened economic stress, with participants from Africa and the Caribbean facing the most severe challenges. The law prompted workers in critical sectors, like agriculture and hospitality, to leave Florida, contributing to economic instability.
• Healthcare Access: Participants hesitated to seek healthcare due to fear of legal repercussions under the new policies, especially among African and Caribbean immigrants.
• Family Separation: Immigrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean expressed concerns over family separation due to detention or deportation, with spillover effects on U.S.-born family members.
• Social Discrimination: African and Caribbean respondents reported the highest levels of everyday discrimination, while Cubans and Central American participants reported the lowest.
• Psychological Well-Being: The Kessler Distress Scale (K6) revealed that respondents from Africa and Mexico experienced the highest levels of distress.