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

ask for legal status. If even a fraction of them are, however, schools could see a reduction in enrollment, and in turn a reduction in state funding. Advocates say many young people who lose their protected status will recede into the shadows, which could mean ditching school. Trump’s election alone resulted in a decline among Latino student attendance this year at Palm Beach County schools, administrators said.

What impact will this have on business?

The workforce could shrink at a time where area industries already have a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in technology, nursing and construction. The Center for American Progress estimates that Florida could lose about 28,530 workers if Dreamers left. In addition, some may own local businesses. About 8 percent of Dreamers older than 25 in a recent survey started their own businesses. The survey was conducted by faculty at University of California, San Diego, of about 3,000 Dreamers nationwide.

Will there be an impact on tax revenue?

In Florida, undocumented immigrants paid nearly $468 million in sales and excise taxes a year and $137 million in annual property taxes, according to the Washington-based Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. That figure, though, is not limited to people eligible for DACA. What happens next? Trump ordered Congress to pass a law to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. On the table is the Dream Act 2017, introduced by both Democrats and Republicans, which would provide pathways to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants, Dreamers or people with temporary protected status. Or the courts could decide. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia sued the U.S. government Wednesday to block Trump’s actions. Trump's plan is "cruel, shortsighted, inhumane" and driven by a personal bias against Mexicans and Latinos, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said.

What happens to Dreamers who currently have work permits?

Their permits will protect them until their expiration date. If their permits expire before March 5, 2018, they can apply for renewals within the next month. After that, it’s up to Congress.

Who are the Dreamers?

People who came to the United States before their 16th birthday and met several other criteria, They could obtain temporary permits to work in the United States, renewable every two years for a $465 fee. They had to prove they lived continuously in America since June 15, 2007.

Where did they come from?

Their top five countries of origin are Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru.

Will Trump’s order affect in-state tuition for Florida immigrants?

No. Immigrants who graduated from Florida high schools will continue to pay in-state tuition for higher education as long as they spent three consecutive years in high school here before graduating and apply for colleges or universities within two years of graduation.

Is there help for local DACA recipients?

The Florida Immigrant Coalition hosts a hotline that immigrants can call to link with attorneys for a free consultation. People wishing to help can also call the line. The number is 1-888-600-5762.