Gov. Ron DeSantis has linked the 2022 death of Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy Michael Hartwick to illegal immigration, highlighting that the man operating the front-end loader that struck Hartwick was in the country illegally. However, DeSantis defended the company overseeing the worker, Archer Western-de Moya Group Joint Venture, which was contracted by the state. DeSantis pointed out that the company was a victim of an “interstate fraud ring,” with workers using fake IDs to pass citizenship verification screenings.
DeSantis also mentioned that the company had a history of hiring workers in the country illegally, with safety protocols being questioned since Hartwick’s death. There were previous incidents involving workers in the country illegally at the same construction site, leading to investigations by law enforcement. The state failed to penalize the company after Hartwick’s death, despite DeSantis claiming otherwise.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said investigators had difficulty due to workers lying about their identities, and safety lapses were also noted. The trial of the worker who struck Hartwick, Juan Ariel Molina-Salles, is set to begin in March. The state has continued to pay millions to the contractor, Archer Western, for ongoing projects, including the Howard Frankland bridge revamp.
The state response to illegal immigration, and lack of action against businesses like Archer Western that hire workers illegally, has been criticized by lawmakers. The incident has sparked debate over how to address illegal immigration in the state. More information about the company’s hiring practices could come to light during the upcoming trial.
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