Immigrants are packing their bags and leaving the Sunshine State, leaving employers stretched thin and former employees wondering what’s next.
This comes after Governor Ron DeSantis pushed a sweeping anti-illegal immigration bill last month, one that hundreds spent Thursday and Friday protesting against in downtown West Palm Beach.
The hope was for them to get enough attention to put a stop to this bill.
But even if something was to change, countless immigrants have already made the decision to leave the state in fear of what’s to come.
“Today one of my employees resigned,” Hector Ramirez, co-owner of Hector’s Car Wash, said.
That now makes eight employees that have resigned from Hector’s Car Wash in North Palm Beach just in the last few weeks.
“I feel like I'm shorthand now. What am I going to do in full season,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said it’s been a harsh reality to face after the state’s sweeping new immigration law Senate Bill 1718.
Although it won’t go into effect until July, its impact is already being felt.
“It’s really sad because I really cannot do anything for them you know to keep them and stay here. They are my best crew you know,” Ramirez said.
It's something long-time customers told CBS12 they agree with completely, and they’re upset about it too.
“I think it’s horrible. I mean I feel for them. I knew a number of them and they went to states like New York or Connecticut because they were afraid,” customer John Upshall said.
Hundreds of Latinos both directly and indirectly impacted by the bill made their voices heard on June 1, joining in on a no-work strike in downtown West Palm Beach.
“I don’t get hurt by the law, but I see the people that do, and I will use my voice and my privilege as I can,” Josselin Casarrubias, owner of La Banana Loca, said.
For some, like Suany Caceres, the new law could mean splitting up her family.
"We have family that are not legal in this country and this state they’re not legal. So my kids' father, my mom, they have to leave the state. And I can’t be here by myself because those are the people who take care of my kids. Otherwise, I won’t be able to work," Caceres said.
Without a steady job, she said she doesn't know what the future holds.
"No idea. This was the only way I supported my three kids. I guess look for another job. I know we are hard workers and I know we can get hired anywhere else so you know this is not the ending,” Caceres said.
The strike will continue for the final day, starting Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. outside city hall. Together, the group will make their way down to the courthouse.