Florida News Connection
September 8, 2023
By: Trimmel Gomes
Groups aiding immigrants in building economic
independence and pursuing citizenship are grappling with funding challenges exacerbated
by anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has celebrated strict
new state laws limiting
social services for those who are undocumented, and invalidating their drivers
licenses issued by other states.
Millions more tax dollars are being used to expand his migrant relocation
program, and hospitals getting Medicaid dollars are required to ask for a
patient's immigration status.
Renata Bozzetto, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said the
policies create an environment which scares away donors.
"What we are seeing is a hostile context," Bozzetto pointed out.
"The difficulty is the increased, I would say, a little bit less of space,
that the state can be supportive to immigrants."
Less than a quarter of funding for migrant justice organizations comes from
within Florida. The national funding average for
pro-immigrant and pro-refugee groups is $7 per immigrant, compared with $1.50
in Florida, according to the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.
Cairo Mendes, director, state and local programs for the nonprofit Grantmakers
Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, said philanthropic donations are needed
to match public dollars and support the work done for migrants and immigrants
by nontraditional groups. But new laws like Florida's Senate Bill 1718 make it
difficult to rally support.
"It's creating a chilling effect on these communities, and people have
been leaving the state in droves," Mendes observed. "They're afraid
to go to the hospital in case they need access to something, because they are
afraid that their name, their address, all of that information is going to be
shared with Immigration."
Mendes educates funding partners about on-the-ground needs in states. And
Bozzetto noted she sees two types of funders: those who understand, and those
who want to see immediate results. She explained the ones seeking quick change
are leaving the state, because civic engagement takes time to deliver progress.
"That voter education process is much more costly than just doing a
'get-out-the-vote' initiative," Mendes emphasized.
Bozzetto added her group and others depend on donor support to provide legal
aid and other direct services tackling the root causes of inequality and
protect basic human rights.
Content for this Post is provided by Florida News
Connection, a Bureau of Public News Service.
Public News Service is a member of the The Trust Project.
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