Last year Florida passed legislation, SB 1718, to cut benefits to illegal aliens and to discourage their employment in the state. When it passed, illegal alien advocates proclaimed it would significantly damage Florida’s economy by driving away its illegal workforce.
That, however, didn’t happen. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis observed that “[Florida’] best-in-the-nation legislation combatting illegal immigration generated the typical array of false media narratives. That such narratives blew up shows that good policy pays dividends.”
An article in Forbes magazine confirms DeSantis’ view: “So far, the critics have been wrong. Florida’s economy has continued to grow despite warnings about the impact of SB1718. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state’s gross domestic product increased by 9.2 percent last year, tops in the nation and outpacing the national average by nearly 3 percentage points.
“In 2024, Florida’s economic growth remains strong, surpassing the national average in the first two quarters of the year, with Florida being one of just a handful of states to post 6 percent growth or higher in both quarters. This comes despite the Florida Policy Institute warning that the E-Verify requirement [to thwart hiring of illegals] alone could cost the state $12.6 billion in its first year.”
Read more at breitbart.com