Truckers threaten to boycott Florida over immigration law
MIAMI (NewsNation) – Truck drivers have called for a boycott of Florida’s new penalties and restrictions on undocumented immigrants in the state, which require employers to verify workers’ eligibility to work in the United States
Across social media platforms, Latin American truck drivers are now threatening to halt deliveries to and from Florida and are urging migrants to stay away from work for up to a week.
driver posted Video on Tiktok with messages like “Don’t drive to Florida” and urging others to follow their example, which has led to a string of truckers saying they won’t drive across the state.
Motorists have said they plan to boycott Florida by banning driving in the state starting next month. The hashtags #noFlorida and #boycottFlorida are spreading.
Senate Act 1718 The aim is to stem the flow of illegal immigration. Under the new law, companies with more than 25 employees must use E-Verify, the state system that allows registered employers to determine whether their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States
The new immigration law also requires employers to fire a worker if they determine that the worker is an “alien” who does not have the right to work in the country. The law also invalidates foreign ID cards issued to “illegal immigrants.”
“It shows solidarity, it cuts the supply chain to Florida, AB, it’s also a show of solidarity with their countrymen who don’t see that status as a problem when they’re here,” said Allen Orr, former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Immigration advocates said Florida’s approach targets a community already struggling to survive. According to the Migration Policy Institute, 21% of people living in Florida were not born in the US
“Generally, an employer will not allow drivers to dictate the company’s business and they would not be fired,” said Joe Rajkovacz, the director of government affairs for the Western State Trucking Association.
The law does not apply to independent contractors.
Meanwhile, advocates point to the potential domino effects. They have posted videos of empty grocery store shelves on social media, suggesting the threat from Latin American truck drivers will have further repercussions on the state’s economy.
Florida’s new law, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 10, goes into effect on July 1.
The new law comes at the end of Title 42, which was repealed on May 11. Title 42 was enacted under the Trump administration and allowed border officials to immediately turn away migrants encountered at the US-Mexico border.
