Florida Republicans reconsider hateful anti-immigrant bill as vital migrant workers flee state

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t running a state. He’s running a far-right-wing public relations shop designed to tickle the tenderloins of his red meat-scarfing base. So given that he has no real interest in responsibly governing, it’s no surprise that he’s doing it so badly.

Now one of DeSantis’ anti-immigration publicity stunts—no, not the one that has California Gov. Gavin Newsom considering kidnapping charges, but stay tuned to that story—is sowing unintended chaos within the state. Several GOP lawmakers are hoping to tap the brakes on a car that’s already careened off I-75 and started sinking into the swamp.

Several Florida Republicans are now second-guessing a DeSantis-promoted anti-immigration bill. It was meant to discourage immigrants from flocking to the state, but is instead encouraging migrants—who are indispensable to Florida’s economy—to flee to less-awful environs. It’s almost as if they feel like they’re not welcome or something.

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