Following the newest legislation that Governor Ron DeSantis has rolled out, Latin American truck drivers are scheduling a service boycott in Florida. Following the expiration of Title 42 this week, the number of migrant crossings has increased beyond the expected surge levels. This surge in immigration is not only the result of the pandemic-era expulsion of health policy expiring but also of a number of crises in the region that have led to an influx in migration.
In response to the expiration of Title 42, the Florida state government passed a new law, SB 1718, which would require employers to utilize E-Verify to ensure that all workers they are hiring are legally authorized to work in the country. Hospitals would also be required to collect all possible information on undocumented parties.
DeSantis signed the bill into law on Wednesday, and it is to go into effect on July 1. The law has been praised by Republicans, while Latin American truckers on social media have started planning a boycott for Florida. This would include not delivering any shipments to the state.
The plans were first reported on by independent journalist Arturo Dominguez, who has posted online an array of videos featuring truckers talking about the plans.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, has also responded to the boycott plans, stating that those Republican leaders responsible for the new law “reaped what they sowed” adding that policymakers do not usually account for immigration communities or take them for granted.
