Trump Supporter Shocked by ICE Raid's Impact on His Florida Business: Expected Only Criminals to Be Deported

In an unexpected twist, a Trump supporter in Florida has voiced his confusion and frustration following an ICE raid that disrupted his local roofing business. Vincent Scardina, the company owner who had publicly endorsed the president, now admits he never anticipated that Trump's immigration policies could affect his employees, who are legally employed and have no criminal records.

The raid, which took place on May 27 on US 1 in Sugarloaf Key, resulted in Scardina losing a third of his workforce: six Nicaraguan men who had their paperwork in order, including valid work permits and pending asylum cases. "This shouldn't have happened," said Regilucia Smith, the lawyer for the detained workers, emphasizing that while five of them had nearly expired work permits, they had no criminal background in either the United States or Nicaragua.

The Local Impact on Business and Community

For Scardina, the loss of these employees represents a significant financial blow to his small business. "It's going to be very difficult to replace those guys," he remarked, highlighting the challenge of finding new workers in a small community like his. "In Key West, we can't replace people as easily as in a big city," he added, noting that replacements would require extensive training.

However, the impact is not just financial. Scardina talked about the emotional toll of the raid, mentioning that many of his workers had become close friends over the years of working together. "You get to know these guys, you become their friend, not just their boss. It's shocking to see what happens to their families," he expressed, visibly shaken.

A Surprised Trump Voter

Scardina, a steadfast Trump voter, was taken aback by the nature of the raid. He had supported the president's immigration policies, believing that only criminals would be targeted for deportation. But now he feels let down by the way these policies are impacting law-abiding individuals who play essential roles in the local economy. "What happened here?" he questioned. "I thought the Trump administration would focus on deporting criminals, not workers like these."

ICE Raids in Essential Sectors and Local Impact

The raid in Key West is part of a larger effort that affects various labor sectors, such as construction, agriculture, landscaping, and public services, where immigrant labor is crucial. Even Donald Trump had to acknowledge that his aggressive immigration policy is now strongly impacting the real economy. "Our farmers and people in the hospitality and leisure sectors have been saying that our aggressive immigration policy is taking away excellent workers with extensive experience, and those jobs are almost impossible to replace," he stated on Truth Social.

The White House's stringent anti-immigrant policy has resulted in economic repercussions caused by fear, uncertainty, and the mass loss of essential workers. In South Florida, where the Hispanic community supports vast sectors of the economy, the consequences of stricter immigration policies are already evident. Areas like Homestead, a major agricultural community in Miami-Dade, have seen a slump in commercial activity. "We're not selling even half of what we used to a few months ago," confessed a small business owner in February.

It's not just about losing customers. Workers have also vanished due to ICE raids, with hundreds detained, mostly from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. At the end of May, more than a hundred were captured in a raid at various construction sites in Florida. The actions focused on Wildwood, a rapidly growing community, though others were reported in Tallahassee, Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

On social media, videos of the arrests quickly went viral. "It's tough, taking them away when they're just working," commented one user. Human rights organizations and activists criticized the use of intimidating tactics, including agents in military tactical gear and mass blockades in work areas. "A raid against people who are literally building our homes. ICE agents dressed as if they were going to war," denounced activist Thomas Kennedy from the Florida Immigrant Coalition.

In many communities, there are already reports of labor shortages, halted projects, and a general atmosphere of fear among workers.

The Immigrant Dilemma and Political Debate

These types of raids have reignited the debate over the immigration policy of Florida and Donald Trump's administration, particularly regarding the criminalization of immigrants just for being in an irregular situation. In South Florida communities, where immigrants play a vital role in the economy, concerns about future raids and the possibility of more detentions are growing.

Scardina made it clear that his main concern now is the future of his business and his employees, and he calls for their release. His case highlights the contradiction in immigration policy and how ICE's actions affect not only immigrants but also business owners who, like him, have supported the administration without foreseeing the consequences these policies would have on their daily lives and the local economy.