While DeSantis was flying legal asylum seekers to Martha’s Vineyard, business owners in his state were struggling for workers
CNN) — For the past two years Jan Gautem has been filling in sporadically as a housekeeper at hotels in Orlando, Florida, run by Interessant Hotels & Resort Management, or IHRMC.
When he’s not making beds, he’s busy running the company. He’s the President and CEO of IHRMC — which is based in Orlando, Florida.
“I was making beds a couple of days ago. It’s very tough to find employees,” said Gautem.
There are 11.2 million open jobs in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — up from 10.8 million last year. And there were 1.5 million open hospitality jobs in July. IHRMC says 60% of their 4,500 employees left the company during the pandemic, many to work from home. Now Gautem and other managers are picking up the slack — in housekeeping, the kitchen, and at the front desk.
This is why some business owners in Florida were perplexed when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent legal asylum seekers from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha’s Vineyard on two flights earlier this month.
“Why are they sending them there when we need the people here. We could utilize them,” said Gautem.
Asylum seekers are legally able to work in the United States while they await their asylum cases. During that waiting period, those seeking asylum can apply for work permits — a process that usually takes 180 days before they are authorized.
DeSantis said he believes the asylum seekers were “trying to come to Florida” from Texas. To use money from a $12 million Florida-taxpayer-funded program aimed at moving migrants out of the state of Florida, the planes made a stopover in DeSantis’ state. Whether the asylum seekers intended to go to Florida or not, business owners there are signaling they would welcome them.
“We have a massive labor shortage in Florida in basically every industry here. It’s hard to watch willing workers leave your state with tax dollars,” said Jessica Cooper, owner of Sugar Top Farms just outside of Orlando.
There are more than 670,000 asylum seekers in the United States waiting for their cases to be heard, according to research by Syracuse University. The wait can take four and a half years on average. In the meantime, US asylum seekers can apply for work permits — a process that can take six months on average.
DeSantis said he plans to use all of the $12 million in state funds to move migrants out of Florida.
Lack of domestic workers
Cooper runs a small farm operation with her husband Jordan. They grow produce and edible flowers and sell to local restaurants around Orlando and to Disney World. They need just a handful of farm workers to pick and plant crops, but even those roles are hard to fill.
“We’re finding that it’s hard to keep domestic labor. This is a hard job. This is not for everyone,” said Connor.
The agriculture industry has long relied on foreign labor and visa programs as domestic workers are less reliable and willing to do the physical work. Agriculture is Florida’s second biggest industry behind tourism.
Both industries pay relatively low wages, making it harder to attract workers in a competitive job market. The hospitality and leisure industry pays an average of $20 an hour, while agricultural workers make $18 an hour on average. But for the construction industry, their average wage of $35 an hour isn’t the issue. It’s an aging workforce. The average age of a construction worker is 55 with retirement at 61.
The average age of an asylum seeker is 35 and tend to be younger than the median age in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security. It’s a population that could help support an aging US workforce.
“We have an aging workforce that has not been backfilled with the young individuals,” said Michele Daugherty, president of the Central Florida chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.
The group said they would be open to hiring asylum seekers to help with the shortage.
“We can’t leave any stone unturned,” said Daugherty. “If they are able to legally work here, we have jobs for them. We have opportunities for them to not just take care of themselves, but their families.”
Immigration to fight inflation
Last week the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by another three quarters of a percentage point, a sign the central bank is still trying to get a handle on 8.3% annual inflation as food and rent prices rise. But the increases are also inflicting pain by raising rates on Americans’ mortgages, student loans, and credit card debt.
Increasing immigration into the United States could be a better tool argues Bill Ackman, billionaire hedge fund manager and activist investor. In a series of tweets last week targeting the central bank, Ackman said, “Doesn’t it make more sense to moderate wage inflation with increased immigration than by raising rates, destroying demand, putting people out of work, and causing a recession?”
One study by Texas A&M University backs up that claim, citing that more migrant and H2A visas for foreign workers is related to lower inflation. And a new report from the National Foundation for American Policy says increased immigration doesn’t take jobs away from Americans.
“Research examined labor markets where more temporary foreign workers were employed prior to the pandemic and found the drop in H-2B program admissions did not boost labor market opportunities for U.S. workers but rather, if anything, worsened them,” according to the report.
Gautem says current immigration policy is hurting his business rather than helping it. Florida granted 7,101 asylum seekers permanent political asylum status between 2018-2020, just behind California and New Jersey. For example, in 2020 that was 9.3% of all asylum seekers in the state.
Gautam believes if more asylum seekers are granted permanent status, it will be “a game changer” for the longevity of his business and workforce.
“These people are here. They can start working and they can actually start supporting their families. And of course, help us out,” he said.
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Business owners in Ocala, FL are facing the same situation, especially in transportation, distribution, and the service industries.
Agriculture and tourism are two of the largest industries in Florida.
I've corrected the obvious omission in the headline for the deathsantis supporters...
while desantis was flying legal asylum seekers to martha's vineyard, business owners in his state were struggling for "white" workers
Per the 2020 Census, Florida was:
How diverse is your state?
your continued deflection attempts here may get all of your comments removed.
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I broadened that a little bit for you.
Which will cover virtually every city in the US.
I know, right?
Absolutly
I've noted that restaurant owners are buying robots to use as waiters since they can't find staff.
Last time there had to pull and shoot on a gator while playing golf.
My foursome thought it rather funny.
I chipped some range balls at a gator in a water hazard on a course in south texas once. fox stole my lunch from a golf cart in denver. a crow flew off with my bag of tees from the cup holder tray at a course in the mountains. ran over a rattlesnake on the cart path playing a course on the western slope. smacked a goose in the head with a line drive from a poorly hit 7 iron on a course east of boulder. had to chase deer off the green in delta by hitting into them with range balls. seen a few toads and garter snakes emerge from the cups when the putts went in.
DeSantis thinks this stunt will help him defeat Trump for the GOP nomination. He is in for a rude awakening when Trump starts the personal attacks ( "Ron's father poisoned Mother Teresa, I bet you didnt know that").
In the meantime the immigration stunt will cost DeSantis votes in a possible general election.
You think Florida citizens will care that he is spending millions to fly asylum seekers from Texas to Martha's Vineyards? It might.
You think they will care when it is shown to be illegal from the Texas investigation? It might.
You think they will care when DeSantis loses the lawsuit by those asylum seekers and Florida has to make them all millionaires because of his stunt? It might.
I read $615,000, not millions. Wasn't the money from a federal COVID grant?
That was the cost of the one flight, only.
Taryn Fenske, DeSantis' communications director, has confirmed that the Florida legislature approved the use of $12 million to "transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations," in line with federal law, as reported by the Associated Press.
Fact Check: Did Ron DeSantis Fly Migrants to Martha's Vineyard for $12m?
Yes, $12M of federal grant money of which $615K was spent on this flight.
From a Florida newspaper.
The flights were illegal under both Federal law and Florida State Law and suitsuits have been filed accordingly. DiSantis has not financed any more flights to date.
The money earmarked, $12 million could be used to a better end since Florida has a shortage of 9,500 teachers and associated staff. LEOs, EMT, and Health care workers from Doctors on down.
Correct, but just for the flight, did not include ground transportation, gift certificates used to lure them in, and other expenses. That federal grant money still came out of Florida's wallet and could have been used for local things.
Sounds to me like DeSantis has a friend in the charter airline business......
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Meh. I think this may be more about Greg Abbott.
You are assuming those "legal" migrants would have worked in Florida. That they are even qualified to work in transportation or construction.
Salt of the earth they all are. Never any problems. Until they are.
Just because Brandon has lowered the standards for requesting asylum to near nothing; does not mean we are getting their best and brightest. Or that a fair share of criminals aren't mixed in.
We have already had record setting numbers of migrants cross into our country over the last two years; but we still have a worker shortage. Why is that? I mean they are all coming to the US to work after all./S
Another lie. Standards haven't change, they are written into the law itself.
So they will fit in with the republican party.
No evidence to support claim, so another lie.
Because we are deporting too many of them?
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We already know you procedures, but thank you for confirming.
Based on what you are linking to support your claim, the math would be beyond you.
Okay, no sense of humor...check.
Down to the records of the "Deporter and Chief"? Okay.
I see no crises, just business as usual. There has been a "crisis" on the border (according to republicans) during every democratic administration, which miraculously is forgotten about (again by republicans) whenever a republlican administration is in place.
heh, they hate immigrants that have to be paid standard wages for work performed...
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You need to read more. It's not hard to find actual data outside Fox News or NewsMax.
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I'm not assuming anything there are jobs right this minute in transportation and distribution in OCALA FL that could and would hire them without any experience..Owners that I know personally.
Do you even read your own links, the guy was illegal...Asylum seekers are not illegal...
I could post dozens of stories where white American Citizens commit serious crimes every day.
Stop with the nonsensical BS.
It is currently the law of the land, if you don't like it STFU and work to change it instead of whining on a daily basis.
Even you should be able to figure that out.
You should come to Florida and actually talk to business owners, you might learn something.
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Comment on the article or don't comment at all. You can also post your own article on this if you choose.
Because American workers are leaving the workforce faster than we're letting immigrants in.
11% of working-age American males are not even in the labor force anymore.
They are attending college at a lower rate than woman as well. Perhaps America has raised a bunch of pussies in the last several male generations.
Well, when you don't let their fathers near them, you don't ever make them stand up for themselves, and you label anything related to testosterone as "toxic"... no, it's not going to go well.
That depends on what you consider working age amer males meaning age frames .
Boomers are of retirement age and with everything thats happened many have decided to take a chance on retirement .
technically even though i just turned 60 a couple months ago i would count .
Thing is i semi retired at 49 and have been so ever since , what that means i COULD work , IF i wanted to, instead i take the jobs i want for the wage i accept, as well as under the conditions i want , and all that is because back when i was 49 , I took a look and found i was pretty well financially set and didnt have to work or invest anymore .
right now , i work to stay busy , thats all.
Yeah im listening to steve miller bands greatest hits , i took the money and run .....
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25-54
That's happening a lot. Especially after COVID, people have realized they enjoy simpler lifestyles. You've also got people who have inherited money as the Silent Generation has continued to pass away. And when you add all that to the number of men collecting disability payments and other forms of assistance, the number gets big.
However when we're talking about labor shortage, the "why" doesn't matter. For whatever reason, they're not working, and we haven't seen this percentage of men not working since the Great Depression.
So we have massive, massive labor shortages driving high inflation....and a partial solution to both problems knocking at the door... and we won't let them in. It's not the most intelligent thing we've ever done.
Im listening to his greatest hits 74-78, my HS years , it's bringing me back while i do some butchering .
spent the last 2 weeks chasing pronghorn and deer in the badlands up north .
tagged out on a good B&C antelope buck that scored 73.5 , got to see oldest grand daughter get her first antelope that scored a 68.3, not enough to be a B&C ,minimum score is 70 to get in .
, and son in law get a pope and young buck that scored 67 and some change .
And i still have a special draw cow elk tag to fill when the season opens .
all in all we filled 3 out of 4 antelope tags , daughter still has time to fill hers and only 300 were given out for the area we were in .
here we all are with our goat heads.me holding the biggest to SIL with the smallest.
Men's participation in the labor force has been falling since the 1960s.
The link has a lot of good information.
.
BTW at your age, being close to ancient you are not part of what is considered part of the prime work force.
Yet the US claims to be special and we can't seem to figure this out.
An amazing display of ignorance or lack of will or more likely the pols like the status quo so they have something to blame the other party for.
Very true , but it always seems they call the "old guys " that have experience , even if its just to supervise ..... no need to mention ancient , 2 weeks on foot in the terrain i was in reminded me of that plenty ....I still kept up with the younguns though ....
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LOL.
There are no votes in solved problems.
A sad commentary but true.
LOL well it aint the age its the miles and condition of the road one traveled .... and thats my grand daughter not my daughter ....I dont intend to die with a "pretty" body , i intend to slide in worn out wasted away ,dinged up and battered and smiling saying "what a ride , lets do that again "
must be the irish side thats cracked , the scotish is the side that has got me where i am .
You look fine. You need fattening up, tho
remember , that picture was taken after 2 weeks in a spike camp eating camp rations , and about walking from the Wyo border to chicago in about 2 weeks .
now northern and eastern wyo is about as flat as kansas , but , kansas is like a pancake , full of nooks and crannies , same where i was. it looks flat but to go 1 mile across you walk up and down about 4 .
Everyone says i need fattening up , i went in the service weighing 140 pounds and was on a diet in basic to GAIN weight . I have always been on the lean side , and can basically until recently eat anything without having to worry about gaining weight .
right now im about 225 , and i hover there give or take 5 pounds .
now of course my big upright freezer is half full with venison and antelope , and i still have a limited draw cow elk tag to fill in november and i still havent gotten my general lics yet .
As for looking 80 at 60? im outside all the time , when i die they can make a saddle out of my hide , preferably a ladies saddle , doesnt matter if its for a horse or a motorcycle .
but Thank you for the compliment .
"There are more than 670,000 asylum seekers in the United States waiting for their cases to be heard, according to research by Syracuse University. The wait can take four and a half years on average. In the meantime, US asylum seekers can apply for work permits — a process that can take six months on average."
While they're not working, then the state's taxpayers are footing the bill for their housing , feeding, healthcare, etc.
That's the inconvenient truth....so it would be best they remain in Mexico during this time
It has been a problem for a long time.
Or.... here's a thought....
We could get some government employees off their lunch break and cut that 6 month work-permit window down to 6 days. Then they can pay for their own shit, and pay some taxes as well.
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comment on the article itself or don't comment at all. You can post your own article on Biden and immigrants/flights.
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Seems Death Santis isn't very bright
I anxiously await the bitter shit slinging contest between him and the mango mussolini at mar-a-lardo.
trumpturd called DeathSantis fat, phony and whiny.
He must have been looking in a mirror.
trump's sexual advances were spurned...
This is the kicker - our very real inflation problems are in no small part due to labor shortages.
Shortages of workers - hotel workers, retail workers, energy sector workers, agricultural workers, and all sorts of workers who keep goods moving through our supply chains - could be greatly eased with fresh supplies of immigrant labor.
The right wing Europeans are losing their minds over the Grand Replacement. They feel like the foreigners who are moving into Europe come from such foreign cultures that there is no way to coexist without being erased.
Immigrants from our own hemisphere have a lot in common with the USA to begin with. They are by and large Christians with a strong sense of family values and a work ethic that often puts Americans to shame. What a bunch of cry babies we Americans are.
LOL, yes the great replacement theory strikes fear into the hearts of the snowflakes.
Wait a minute didn't they apply the replacement theory to the Indigenous people of the Americas? By God, they did, and guess what ''we are still here''. What a group of whiny snowflakes they are. Many of the immigrants/asylum seekers are indigenous people of central and south America...OMG taking the land back.
No, they are taking your land back.
Actually, they are joining us in taking our land back.
funny how there's no talk about building a wall on the northern border. immigration reform has always failed due to republican resistance of an accurate verification process for employment. pass legislation to impose major fines, create a bounty program, and make it retroactive to the raygun administration. then send out a few teams of computer pros to audit the legal employment status of personnel at immigrant dominant industries. stand back and watch who hollers the loudest. conservatives want the southern border totally secure and any verification process full of loopholes.
Isn't it amazing in Florida our governor who prides himself on flying asylum seekers from Texas to MA. Yet, on the other hand, he signed off on exempting the farm industry from the Florida E-verify law.
I'd say hypocrite applies to DeSantis and the Florida legislature.
shocking /s
We could use one right around February 15
Illegal crossing in the North are counted in the hundreds, in the South in the millions.
i would say its counted in the thousands or hundreds of thousands , , but the point is it is no where near the level of the southern border .