TAMPA, Fla. — It’s been nearly a year since one of the strongest anti-illegal immigration laws was passed in the state of Florida.

Senate Bill 1718 required hospitals who accept Medicaid to ask about a person’s immigration status and require employers to use the E-Verify system if they hired more than 25 employees, among other provisions.

Jeannette Matta has seen the impact of the law first hand.

“You see these fields?" she asked. "There’s hardly any workers there. But why? Because that’s the impact of 1718."

It’s a sight that Matta has seen for months since the passing of a new immigration law in the state, and it’s one that has transformed the community she serves.

For the past three years, she’s educated immigrants on their rights in the United States through her foundation, Miel y Canela.

Throughout this past year, it’s been about educating the community about SB 1718.

Specifically, the part in the law that requires business to E-Verify if they have more than 25 employees.

“Every time that a law comes into play, and they implement these laws, it’s the consequences of these laws that impact our economy, it impacts our community, it impacts everything,” she said.

Supporters of SB 1718 say the law is a message that the state will protect its resources for communities and families.

“I am proud that since Gov. (Ron) DeSantis signed our bill, we have seen a 54% decrease in tax dollars spent on medical services for illegal aliens within our state," State Rep. Berny Jacques said. "The law is clearly removing incentives for illegals to settle in Florida."

Jacques sponsored the House version of the approved legislation.

But farmworkers like Lucia Lopez don't see it that way. She says it’s meant having to adjust to a new normal without people she’s worked with for more than a decade. 

“It’s not what it used to be, where people would come and they could get a job," Lopez said. "Now they can’t do that. But if something could change with this law, it would benefit a lot of people."

SB 1718 was signed in May of last year with DeSantis saying it was a way of fighting back against federal government policies involving immigration. He also said it was a policy to ensure Florida taxpayers weren’t footing the bill for undocumented immigrants.

A year later and the cry for help from the immigrant community continues for Matta. Her desk is filled with an increasing number of immigration cases that still need to be resolved.

She said it’s important to offer education to immigrants so that they don’t have to live in fear. 

There are more immigration laws to take effect on July 1.

They include a bill that enhances penalties for a crime committed by an individual who returns to the country illegally, and a bill that would prevent counties and municipalities from accepting ID cards issued to undocumented immigrants.