‘Not about special treatment’: Miccosukee Tribe responds to Trump veto

Trump claimed the tribe worked against his immigration efforts, the basis he used to veto a flood protection project in the Florida Everglades

by Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix January 6, 2026January 6, 2026

News

DeSantis condemns ‘destructive’ Maduro government, announces arrests of 10K non-citizens

DeSantis stayed quiet in the first days following the operation — even though Florida boasts the largest Venezuelan community in the nation

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

News

Trump vetoes Miccosukee flood protection, citing tribe’s opposition to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

He blamed the tribe for having “actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people decisively voted for when I was elected.”

by Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix January 2, 2026January 2, 2026

News

Orange County mayor says local taxpayers ‘unfairly’ shouldering cost of federal ICE duties

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings wrote a letter to the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday seeking full reimbursement for jailing ICE detainees

by McKenna Schueler December 23, 2025December 23, 2025

News

Demings says there’s nothing Orange County can do about ICE concerns

“I believe that the appropriate venue for those types of complaints is either with the federal government, with the state or the courts,” Mayor Demings said when pressed

by McKenna Schueler December 18, 2025December 18, 2025

News

Florida approves cops’ requests for $2M in immigration enforcement money

The money was requested for AI language translators, pepper spray, GPS trackers, handcuffs, bonuses, and more

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix December 18, 2025December 18, 2025

News

‘Copy of Guantánamo’: Human rights group alleges torture at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Two migrant detention centers may have violated international standards by imposing conditions that could amount to torture, the group claims

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix December 4, 2025December 4, 2025

News

Tampa photojournalist arrested outside ICE detention center in Miami

Decker, who was on assignment for three news outlets, was covering a protest action by Sunshine Movement, which saw many of its members arrested.

by Ray Roa November 24, 2025November 24, 2025

News

Fear of immigration arrests near schools in Florida is reducing enrollment, officials say

The majority of unexpected departures in Orange County were children in immigrant families, said school board member Stephanie Vanos.

by Bea Anhuci, Fresh Take Florida November 12, 2025November 12, 2025

News

‘Dragging its feet’: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ appeal paused due to government shutdown

The court agreed with the Department of Homeland Security that the case should be paused until government attorneys can work again.

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix October 24, 2025October 24, 2025

News

Florida bill would let families sue for killings by undocumented immigrants, fine police not working with ICE

It’s the largest proposed change so far to Florida immigration laws ahead of the 2026 session

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix October 22, 2025October 22, 2025

News

Florida faces lawsuit over ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ records

An environmental group filed a lawsuit alleging that state officials have improperly withheld public records

by Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida October 15, 2025October 15, 2025

News

Florida gets $608M grant for immigrant detention centers

Funds will be spent on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ — which the state has already spent at least $245M on — and ‘Deportation Depot’

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix October 3, 2025October 3, 2025

News

DeSantis, Cabinet approve $14 million for immigration crackdown

Items approved in the grants include bulletproof vests, AI-assisted translation software and license-plate readers

by News Service of Florida October 1, 2025October 1, 2025

News

Florida sheriffs want $250M in state grants for immigration crackdown

The wish-list includes bullet-proof vests, AI-assisted software, license-plate readers and money for bonuses

by Dara Kam, News Service of Florida September 30, 2025September 30, 2025

News

Florida gets $38m from ICE for immigration crackdown, while ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ bill looms

The federal government has yet to cover the at-minimum $245 million price tag for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix September 29, 2025September 29, 2025

Florida News

Florida vows ‘vigilance’ at detention centers after Dallas ICE facility shooting

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ and ‘Deportation Depot’ are Florida’s two main detention centers working in conjunction with ICE

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix September 25, 2025September 25, 2025

News

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ now wants federal money

A federal appeals court last week ordered the center to remain open partially because it lacked federal ties

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix September 16, 2025September 16, 2025

News

South Florida mayor urges cities like Orlando to reconsider ICE agreements

A city spokesperson declined to confirm whether Orlando would reconsider at this time, citing a pending legal case.

by McKenna Schueler September 8, 2025September 8, 2025

Florida News

Florida opens ‘Deportation Depot’ detention center

It’s ‘receiving’ migrants as of Friday

by Liv Caputo, Florida Phoenix September 5, 2025September 5, 2025

VOTE NOW IN THE BEST OF ORLANDO® READERS POLL!

Immigration

‘Not about special treatment’: Miccosukee Tribe responds to Trump veto

DeSantis condemns ‘destructive’ Maduro government, announces arrests of 10K non-citizens

Trump vetoes Miccosukee flood protection, citing tribe’s opposition to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Orange County mayor says local taxpayers ‘unfairly’ shouldering cost of federal ICE duties

Demings says there’s nothing Orange County can do about ICE concerns

Florida approves cops’ requests for $2M in immigration enforcement money

‘Copy of Guantánamo’: Human rights group alleges torture at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Tampa photojournalist arrested outside ICE detention center in Miami

Fear of immigration arrests near schools in Florida is reducing enrollment, officials say

‘Dragging its feet’: ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ appeal paused due to government shutdown

Florida bill would let families sue for killings by undocumented immigrants, fine police not working with ICE

Florida faces lawsuit over ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ records

Florida gets $608M grant for immigrant detention centers

DeSantis, Cabinet approve $14 million for immigration crackdown

Florida sheriffs want $250M in state grants for immigration crackdown

Florida gets $38m from ICE for immigration crackdown, while ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ bill looms

Florida vows ‘vigilance’ at detention centers after Dallas ICE facility shooting

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ now wants federal money

South Florida mayor urges cities like Orlando to reconsider ICE agreements

Florida opens ‘Deportation Depot’ detention center