Q&A about Mexico-Central Florida relations.

The Trump administration policy that subjects millions of people living illegally in the U.S. to possible deportation represents a sweeping change at the border with Mexico. While most of the attention on those new U.S. policies in Florida focuses on jobs and trade — about 300,000 Florida jobs depend on trade with Mexico, and more than 10,000 people are employed in Florida by 761 Mexican-owned companies — what about Mexican citizens who vacation or live in Central Florida? To gauge the state of Mexican-Central Florida relations, the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board sought out Juan Sabines, Consul of Mexico in Orlando. For a complete transcript of the interview, visit OrlandoSentinel .com/Opinion.

How many U.S. citizens of Mexican descent live in Central Florida? We have around 200,000 Mexican-Americans living here. A study released by the Pew Research Center found in Central Florida that there are 66,000 people of Mexican descent who live in Orlando, Kissimmee and Sanford. From such statistics, it is estimated that 35,000 are U.S.-born and the other 31,000 are foreign-born.

Are there estimates of the number of Mexican immigrants who live or work in Florida? Regardless of their immigration status, the estimated population of Mexican immigrants in the states is around 600,000.

What are some of the ways that Mexicans have influenced Central Florida? The Mexican community has brought business and employment to Central Florida, with small and big investments such as Cemex [a Mexican building-materials company with operations here]. Hard work is an undeniable characteristic of the Mexican community. Such work generates taxes. The amount of federal income taxes, along with state and local taxes, paid by the undocumented community and regular migration and well-established businesses in Florida is almost $599 million. Moreover, the Mexican community is strongly related to iconic industries in Florida, such as hospitality, agriculture and construction.

Mexico is Florida’s third-largest partner in terms of buying products. In 2016, Mexico bought $2.8 billion in goods and services from Florida.

Mexican tourists also impact Central Florida. In 2015, 553,000 Mexicans visited the state, ranking seventh in international visitors to Florida. The amusement parks in Orlando get a considerable share of those visits.

One would expect an increase in anxiety among people of Mexican descent. Has there been a spike in Mexican tourists or others in Orlando seeking the consulate’s help? What questions do they ask? What advice do they seek? In our outreach, community members have approached us seeking our support with information. They want to know if families are going to be separated. A considerable part of the community here has children born in the United States. They are afraid of separation and deportation, since they are not U.S. citizens. This anxiety has been expressed to us by the documented and undocumented community alike. For this reason, we have experienced an increase in applications for dual citizenship from Mexican parents with children born in Central and North Florida. We have partnered with a selected group of immigration lawyers to give advice to the Mexican community, to be ready if they are needed. These lawyers give reliable information to the community in order to avoid rumors or false information.