Sophia Barrera

Under the hot Florida sun, many cultures have blended into one unified identity: Miamians. Encapsulating the wildlife of the Everglades and the nightlife of Ocean Drive, Miami is rich in its diversity.

Growing up in this city my entire life, I have had the privilege of experiencing its blend of culture. I have drunk too many cafecitos, listened to hours of reggaeton, and adapted my Mexican Spanish to Cuban slang. 

These traits that make Miami so distinct began the 18th century, as immigrants became the center of Miami life. A large Cuban population quickly developed as exiles from Fidel Castro’s socialist government began to arrive on the shores of Miami. In the years that followed, Colombian and Venezuelan immigrants began to trickle into Miami in search of economic opportunity. Now, immigrants from across South America call South Florida home.

But today, Miami’s cultural identity is at risk as Florida’s state government takes dramatic actions to prevent Latin American immigration across its borders. Governor Ron De Santis signed legislation earlier this year to deter immigrants from settling in Miami. This has effectively shut the door on immigrants.

This new legislation does not reflect an aversion to immigration as a whole, but only to a certain kind of immigrant. In the past decade, a new culture has entered the Miami mix: New Yorkers. During the height of the pandemic, Miami saw a 55.2% increase in move rates into the county. Additionally, Apple signed one of the biggest Miami commercial leases this year, with the intention to move its tech empire to South Florida. These higher income immigrants face little to no pushback from this new legislation. De Santis seems to only be welcoming wealthy immigrants with a traditional Miamian hug and kiss.

What local government officials need to recognize is that the values of a great city go beyond financial gain but lie within the people that created it. Rather than implementing barriers to immigration, legislatures must uplift immigrants by introducing legal support services to facilitate the documentation process while still maintaining Miami’s cultural diversity. 

My memories of Miami are full of vibrant colors and tequeños. Not materialism that muffles the voices of the individuals that built this city. Cultural identity is at stake, and once it is gone, we will never get it back. No amount of money could ever revive our home.