Underneath Ron DeSantis’s arrogance, as Florida leads the nation in immigration enforcement, there is an enigma: how to replace the vital jobs left by the immigrant workers targeted for deportation. According to Florida lawmakers, the solution is the state’s schoolchildren. Bills progressing through the Republican-controlled state senate could soon allow schoolchildren as young as 14 to work overnight shifts without rest – even on school nights. A piece of legislation advancing this week seeks to eliminate numerous existing protections for young workers and allow them to fill the shoes of immigrants with cheap labor.

DeSantis argued at an immigration forum with Donald Trump’s “border czar”, Tom Homan, questioning the need to import foreigners when teenagers can do the jobs instead. This proposal has alarmed immigration advocates worried about child labor abuses and exploitation. They point out that the language of the senate and house bills before lawmakers permits unlimited working hours without breaks for home-schooled or online-educated 14- and 15-year-olds and can require 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than six days in a row.

According to the US Census Bureau, more than 27% of Florida’s workforce is foreign-born. The state’s attempt to cover labor shortages due to immigration enforcement has concerned advocacy groups. The Republican’s bill has faced backlash, including from Republican lawmakers themselves. The issue remains to be seen how the final legislation will look and affect the state’s labor landscape.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/29/florida-republicans-immigrant-jobs-child-labor