In Florida, an exodus of people fleeing rising anti-immigrant sentiment
Nearly a year ago, Florida passed one of the toughest immigration laws in the country. It's caused an exodus in some communities. Those who stayed behind say it's made life terrifying.
FORT MYERS, Fla.-- Manuel Vasquez says he remembers when the exodus began. When one by one, people in this community started vanishing.
It began about a year ago, in May 2023, when a new law was signed into law by Governor --and then presidential candidate-- Ron DeSantis.
It's considered one of the toughest immigration laws in the country.
Among other things, penalizes employers from using undocumented labor, prohibits undocumented people from having driver's licenses, and defines giving an undocumented person a ride into the state of Florida as human smuggling. It also requires hospitals to include questions about immigration status.
