Global Courant
Although the outpouring of support for the Florida migrant community by civil groups has made them feel more supported, uncertainty among Guatemalans living in that US state still remains.
On July 1, Law SB 1718 came into effect in the State of Florida, which, among other aspects, obliges employers to verify the immigration status of a person before granting them a job, otherwise they are exposed to fines and cancellation of operating permits.
Guatemalans agree that the displays of support from social groups, added to police forces in some counties that have said that it is not their duty to verify a person’s immigration status, have made the community feel support.
However, they recognize that restlessness and uncertainty prevail among those who live in an irregular situation, who have had to increase their precautionary measures.
“Right now people are taking more precautions,” said Roberto Monjaras, a Guatemalan migrant leader. “They have been told to stay out of trouble, to avoid being stopped by the police, to fix their headlights, to drive carefully or only when absolutely necessary,” he added.
He explained that, for the moment, people continue to work, they began to calm down and it has not been known that they are making the decision to migrate to other states and they are still pending whether the rule will finally be challenged and eventually blocked by a court.
Worry
Marlon González, a member of the Guatemala-USA Mission, indicated that “Guatemalans continue to be concerned” and that, although it is true, there has been support from organizations “the Law —SB 1718— is there and the uncertainty continues.”
He agreed that different groups have intensified calls for caution directed at the migrant community, but that there are many Guatemalans in an irregular migratory situation who need to work and drive, even though they do not have a valid license.
They are the ones who are most exposed. SB 1718 prohibits the issuance of a driver’s license to anyone who does not prove legal residence in the US and invalidates this document if it was issued in another state in favor of an illegal alien.
Last Wednesday, July 5, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles warned that it will “strictly enforce” the law in this regard.
González affirms that Guatemalans have organized themselves to travel to their jobs in vehicles driven by someone with a valid license and that they choose to stay home on weekends when they used to go out for distraction.
He said that a group of workers, including Guatemalans, decided to stop working in a residential complex due to the fear generated by the inspections carried out by private security guards.
Likewise, he indicated that migrants are oriented on what to do when they are stopped by the police and are suggested not to visit public places that the authorities frequently make operational, as well as “a host of prevention measures so that they are not involved In nothing”.
missing campaigns
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minex) commented in this regard that it has carried out support actions towards compatriots living in Florida. The Communications office affirmed that Guatemalans have been trained to make the Law known, so that they consult doubts and thus give them legal advice.
He highlighted that Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro recently traveled to the US and with the consulates, strategies were discussed to deal with the effects of SB 1718.
On June 7, the office reported that an information campaign had been implemented through which it would be disclosed through social networks “how the new regulations affect irregular migrants.”
He said that the campaign would consist of publishing “every day on their social platforms” material to explain what the Law consists of, as well as calls for webinars open to the public. However, a check on the Facebook pages of the Miami and Lake Worth consulates shows that there are few posts.
A large number of Guatemalans earn their living doing agricultural work in Florida. Farmers in Immokalee. (Free Press Photo: PL Newspaper Library)
The first made two on June 15, to publicize the rights before SB 1718, and on the 6th of the same month he organized a seminar for the same purpose. The consulate in Lake Worth made more publications, on June 7, 11, 13 and 28, as well as on July 1 and 4. In the Minex of the same social network there are more publications, although they are diluted among dozens more related to other topics.
The Twitter account of both consulates has been more active; however, in general, this social network is much less used by people.
The Minex Communication office indicated that both offices do not have Instagram or Tik Tok accounts.
Gonzalez pointed out that “there has not been a great campaign, perhaps because they do not want to have problems with the governor -Ron DeSantis-.” He comments that the foreign minister visited the town of Homestead, where there are many Guatemalans, but “it’s not enough.”
pronouncements
Migrants and analysts point out that other countries have issued stronger pronouncements against SB 1718. The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, called not to vote for Governor DeSantis, who is trying to run for the presidential candidacy for the Republican Party.
Some 167,000 Guatemalans live in Florida, according to estimates by the Foreign Ministry. (Free Press Photo: AFP)
The foreign minister of the same country, Alicia Bárcena, expressed concern about what she considers a “really very discriminatory” act, while her Honduran counterpart, Eduardo Enrique Reina, criticized the rule and described it as “cruel” and “dramatic.”
Immigration consultant Fernando Castro pointed out that Minex should express its concern and rejection of SB 1718, since that would mean “a show of solidarity and support for more than 167,000 compatriots residing in the state of Florida.”
Although there is hope that the law will be repealed and there are more and more signs of solidarity, González maintains that “uncertainty continues and it will be difficult for someone to take it away.”
