Floridians feel undocumented immigrants are a burden on the economy, according to a recent survey by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education.
PIE Center researchers surveyed 503 Florida residents about their opinions of undocumented immigration in Florida and in the United States, particularly the perceived impact on jobs, the economy and culture.
Floridians carry polarized attitudes surrounding undocumented immigrants and the economy, PIE Center Associate Director Alexa Lamm said. More than two-thirds of Floridians felt that undocumented immigrants were a burden on the economy, compared to 31 percent who felt undocumented immigrants are an asset.
“Migrant workers play a large role in the agricultural, food service and hospitality industries,” Lamm said. “These are all major economic industries in Florida, so it was interesting to see Floridians’ opinions on undocumented immigrants and the job market.”
Residents were split on how undocumented immigrants impact jobs — half believed the undocumented immigrants reduce good jobs for Americans while the other 50 percent felt undocumented immigrants fill jobs Americans don’t want.
Similarly, Floridians were unsure about undocumented immigrants’ impact on American culture. Fifty-two percent felt that undocumented immigrants threaten traditional American culture while 48 percent believe they increase cultural diversity.
Although a majority of Floridians believes that children of undocumented immigrants should receive public K-12 education, 43 percent agreed these children should be allowed to attend public colleges in their home state at in-state tuition rates. Twenty-five percent were neutral toward in-state tuition rates for children of undocumented immigrants and 32 percent of Floridians disagreed.
PIE Center researchers administered the survey before the Florida Senate approved legislation that grants in-state tuition to immigrant students brought to the U.S. illegally. The bill, expected to be signed into law, would make Florida the 20th state to offer tuition relief to undocumented students.
“Children of undocumented immigrants go to school with our children already,” Lamm said. “They already have the right to enroll in public K-12 education, so many of our respondents said why not grant them the right to receive higher education in the same state at the same in-state rate.”
