Rick Roth, a committed Republican and conservative member of the Florida Legislature, is notably a farmer first. He manages a farm in Palm Beach County, south of Lake Okeechobee, growing vegetables, rice, and sugar cane on land inherited from his father. Over the past three decades, he has advocated to protect his workforce, which largely consists of laborers from Mexico, from various legislative actions.
Roth has been particularly opposed to legislation requiring employers to verify workers’ immigration status, fearing such laws could devastate farmers financially. However, by 2023, Roth’s stance began to waver as Florida reconsidered such a bill. In May, he supported SB 1718, a decision contrary to his previous views, citing an “invasion” at the border as his primary reason. The bill required most employers to verify new hires against a federal database and mandated hospitals inquire about patients’ immigration status. Additionally, it increased funding for a program to transport new immigrants out of Florida, while making it illegal to employ undocumented workers. Governor Ron DeSantis described it as the “strongest anti-illegal-immigration legislation in the country.”
Despite recognizing the potential harm to farmers, landscapers, and other Florida-based industries, Roth aligned with the political shift among Republican figures, who emphasize immigration as a significant national threat. This represented a marked departure from Roth’s long-time advocacy for more accessible legal immigration solutions.
After the bill’s passage, Roth returned to Belle Glade, content. Yet, his constituents, business owners, began to panic over the future of their workforce. Many workers chose to leave Florida, fearing the law’s repercussions. Roth’s office was inundated with complaints from sectors reliant on undocumented labor, reiterating the exact concerns Roth once championed against.
In a personal narrative, Salvador Garcia Espitia, facing immense economic pressures caring for a son with special needs, saw the H-2A visa program as a viable way to support his family. However, the program that benefited Roth’s enterprise ended in tragedy for Garcia.
Garcia died working in Belle Glade under extreme heat conditions. An OSHA investigation later determined that the company hiring him failed to safeguard against heat exposure, resulting in a fine for the employer. Roth, while sympathetic, expressed concern over potential governmental overreach following Garcia’s death.
As Roth prepares for a possible state Senate campaign in 2026, he remains involved in legislative matters, including those opposing local heat protection ordinances, maintaining that employers have incentives to protect employees without additional mandates. He continues to advocate for broader immigration reforms, asserting that temporary labor programs like H-2A are essential.
In July 2023, Roth attended the Republican National Convention, where former President Donald Trump spoke on border security and deportations. Roth dismissed concerns about potential mass deportations affecting Florida’s agricultural sector, confident in the continued availability of H-2A labor as a solution.