Florida: 300,000 Latinos at Risk of Losing Work Permits

Florida faces a potential labor crisis for 298,000 asylum applicants in the Miami area. If federal rules change, thousands of Latinos could lose their work permits and their primary source of income.

The impact would not be limited to migrant families. It would also reach hospitals, construction sites, hotels and essential services that already depend on this labor force in southern Florida.

What Is at Risk?

Changes driven by the Donald Trump administration could halt the renewal and issuance of work permits for people with pending asylum cases. According to Miami Herald, the threat affects 298,000 workers in the Miami metropolitan area.

More than 296,000 Latinos in the U.S. lost their jobs in 2025 — A construction worker transports supplies at an apartment construction site in Los Angeles, California, United States. EFE/EPA/Caroline Brehman

That group represents 8.4% of the local workforce, according to the study cited by WorkPermits.US. The organization also estimates that throughout Florida there are 541,000 workers with pending asylum applications.

The impact would be greater when it comes time to renew documents. If a permit expires and cannot be renewed in time, a person could be forced out of the job market. That means less income and more pressure on already vulnerable families.

The Supreme Court has recently backed several restrictive immigration measures from the government. That context reinforces fears that labor policy changes will also advance with legal and political force.

Which Sectors Would Be Hit Hardest?

Asylum applicants in South Florida are concentrated in 3 key sectors. Construction leads with 16.1%. Transportation, storage and utilities account for 13.8%. Tourism and hospitality reach 11.6%.

That means the potential layoffs would not just affect individual jobs. They would also disrupt entire service chains. A construction project is delayed if personnel is lacking. A hotel cuts shifts if it loses cleaning or kitchen staff.