As Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, many of them Latin Americans, are bracing for its impact. These individuals, who already face daily struggles due to language barriers and lack of resources, are now facing a life-or-death situation as the powerful storm approaches.
Many immigrants work in the fields along Florida’s I-4 corridor, harvesting oranges and tomatoes, or in hospitality and construction across Orlando, Tampa, and surrounding areas. For many, access to vital storm information is limited, and evacuation orders pose significant challenges.
Migrants in the Eye of the Storm
Florida is home to over 4.8 million immigrants, with large populations in Orlando and Tampa. Many are from Latin American countries like Mexico and Venezuela. In Central Florida, migrant workers pick strawberries, berries, tomatoes, and oranges, or work in restaurants and hotels. Many new arrivals lack access to TV, computers, or the internet, making it hard to stay informed about the storm.
For around 250,000 Mexicans living in the area, many in trailer homes, the situation is especially concerning. Fear of deportation keeps many from seeking shelter. Juan Sabines Guerrero, Consul General of Mexico in Orlando, urged immigrants not to delay in seeking safety. “There is no time to think about it,” he said. “They have to do it.”
Local authorities have assured consular officials that immigration status will not be checked at shelters, but fear remains widespread.
Fighting Fear to Save Lives
To combat this fear and spread crucial information, Mexican consulate staff and immigration advocates have been working tirelessly. They’ve partnered with Spanish-language radio stations, shared interactive maps of shelters on social media, and opened WhatsApp channels and emergency hotlines.
Nonprofits like the Farmworker Association of Florida, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, and the Hope CommUnity Center are also stepping in, translating information into Spanish, French, and African languages and disseminating it via social media, text messages, and calls. These groups have received hundreds of calls from immigrants seeking help, many of whom don’t understand English or have difficulty accessing reliable information about the storm.
One woman, Lupita Lara, lives near Orlando with her family and a 23-year-old son who has special needs and requires a respirator at night. She struggled to apply for space in a special-needs shelter due to technical issues and language barriers. With the help of the Farmworker Association, which made a three-way call to the shelter office, she was able to confirm her application, though space wasn’t guaranteed. “I needed their help,” said Lara, who mainly speaks Spanish. “They don’t have people who speak Spanish when we call.”
The Burden of Fear
Florida’s strict immigration laws, passed in 2023, have exacerbated fear among undocumented immigrants. These laws criminalize transporting people without permanent legal status, invalidate U.S. government IDs, and require businesses to verify workers’ legal status. As a result, many immigrants are afraid to go to shelters or request food, water, or sandbags to protect their homes, despite assurances that no identification will be required.
“People are afraid to call authorities, so they call us,” explained Felipe Souza-Lazaballet, executive director at the Hope CommUnity Center. This is why nonprofits are stepping in to coordinate information and resources.
Advocates like Dominique O’Connor, a climate justice organizer with the Farmworker Association of Florida, have noticed that the presence of military personnel or police officers at shelters and sandbag sites can be intimidating for immigrants, even when those officials are there to help. “In times of disasters, people’s vulnerability is heightened, and fear of deportation becomes even more intense,” O’Connor said.
A Call to Action
Hurricane Milton’s approach is putting Florida’s immigrant communities in a vulnerable position. Advocacy groups are urging residents, regardless of their immigration status, to take action and protect their families by seeking shelter and preparing for the storm. It’s crucial to spread the message that shelters and services are available, and that no one will be asked for their immigration status.