### Trump’s Proposed Mass Deportation Could Impact One Million Floridians, Report Finds

A recent analysis by the American Immigration Council, a Washington D.C.-based think tank and immigration advocacy group, reveals that former president Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan could lead to the expulsion of up to one million Floridians. The plan, aimed at deporting 13.3 million undocumented or otherwise removable immigrants nationwide, is projected to have severe economic repercussions for Florida and the entire United States.

The group's findings indicate that such a large-scale deportation initiative would conservatively cost at least $315 billion. However, the economic impacts extend far beyond this initial expenditure. The report, published on October 2nd, warns of considerable consequences including the separation of millions of families, exacerbation of existing job shortages, and a significant contraction of the U.S. economy. A one-time mass deportation of this scale could decrease the annual U.S. GDP by up to 6.8%.

Undocumented immigrants, who contributed nearly $77 billion in local, state, and federal taxes in 2022, are crucial contributors to the American labor force and economy. "Our analysis shows the vital role that undocumented immigrants play in the U.S. as workers, taxpayers, and consumers. If they were to be deported, we would see a major shock to the U.S. labor force that will lead to a reduction in the U.S. GDP," said Nan Wu, research director at the American Immigration Council.

Moreover, federal social-safety net programs such as Social Security and Medicare, which undocumented immigrants cannot access, would suffer financially from the loss of tens of billions of dollars in tax contributions. "Not getting the payments from those immigrants will make it increasingly difficult to keep those social safety net programs solvent," Wu emphasized, especially given the rapidly growing population of Americans aged 65 and older over the past decade.

Florida would be particularly hard-hit by the proposed policy, potentially losing 5% of its population or about one million undocumented residents. This significant reduction in population could lead to critical job shortages and increased inflation in key industries such as agriculture and construction, according to Wu.

The findings are based on data from the Census Bureau and other federal government statistics. Research indicates that the majority of undocumented immigrants have resided in the U.S. for a decade or longer, integrating into their communities, building lives, and contributing economically. Previous estimates over the last decade have placed Florida's undocumented population between 590,000 and 775,000.

While the Trump campaign has not provided detailed responses regarding the logistics of implementing such a deportation campaign, a statement from May indicated their intent to repatriate the "millions of illegals Biden has resettled across America." The implications of this policy, however, appear far-reaching and complex, underscoring the integral role of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. economy and society.