How will fate of Dreamers affect Florida?

Florida’s “Dreamers” are in limbo, and their uncertainty could have major impacts on the state.

The Dreamers are immigrants who were brought here illegally as children. They rely on an Obamaera program to work legally and stay in the country without fear of deportation. But President Donald Trump ended the program Sept. 5 and now it’s up to Congress to come up with a replacement.

In Florida, about 32,800 Dreamers have obtained work permits through the program. Here is how their situation could affect the state.

How will it impact the state’s economy?

Florida has one of the largest populations of Dreamers, so it would take one of the largest blows to its economy if the workers left the market. The Center for American Progress estimates that Florida would lose $1.5 billion from its gross domestic product every year.

What impact may this have on the courts?

Immigration courts are likely to become even more clogged, with people now waiting to see judges in Miami for two to three years, said Victoria Mesa-Estrada, with Florida Legal Services. Some have to remain detained the whole time, although most get released and must check in frequently before their court date. A Government Accountability Report found that the number of backlogged cases in immigration court nationwide more than doubled from 2006 to 2015.

What impact will this have on K-12 schools?

About 33,000 foreign-born students attend Broward schools, although it’s unclear how many of those students are “Dreamers” because schools are not allowed to