Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushed back against “false media narratives” regarding illegal immigration, following a report highlighting the state’s economic growth. Despite predictions that strict immigration policies would harm Florida’s economy, the state saw a 3.2% GDP growth from Q1 2024 to Q2 2024, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that Florida added 133,000 jobs from October 2023 to October 2024.
DeSantis addressed the data on Tuesday, saying on X, “FL’s 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. The goal needs to be disfavoring illegal immigration rather than — as is common across the US — incentivizing more illegal immigration.”
Critics, including Democrats and some media outlets, previously argued that Florida’s tough stance on illegal immigration would harm industries reliant on migrant labor. However, the economic data suggests otherwise. In May 2023, DeSantis signed legislation requiring hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status and report the costs of treating illegal immigrants. The governor linked this to a significant drop in Medicaid spending.
“We made sure when you have people show up at the hospital that we’re asking about immigration status, and that’s caused the Medicaid expenditures to plummet by 50%,” DeSantis told “Hannity” in June. Data from May showed Emergency Medical Assistance spending dropped to $67 million from FY 23 to FY 24, a decrease of over 50%.
Activists raised concerns that such policies could discourage immigrants from seeking medical care. Under federal law, illegal immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid, but states must provide emergency care regardless of status.
The 2023 law includes additional measures to deter illegal immigration. These include mandatory E-Verify for employers, prohibiting local governments and NGOs from issuing IDs to illegal immigrants, and suspending licenses of businesses that hire undocumented workers. It also allocates more funds to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary jurisdictions.
DeSantis’s policies aim to prioritize legal immigration while addressing the strain illegal immigration can place on public resources. The state’s economic performance amid these policies challenges the narrative that cracking down on illegal immigration would harm Florida’s workforce and economy.
