They were among hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came to the state in recent years as immigration surged under former President Biden. No state has been more affected by the increase in immigrants than Florida, according to internal government data obtained by the Associated Press. Florida had 1,271 migrants who arrived from May 2023 to January 2025 for every 100,000 residents, followed by New York, California, Texas and Illinois. The economy grew as more people arrivedNew immigrants found work in the booming construction industry, as well as in agriculture, transportation, utilities and manufacturing. Florida, a Republican-led state, has worked to help the Trump administration with its immigration crackdown and has enacted laws targeting illegal immigration.