The permanent state of emergency challenged
On several occasions since January 2023, Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has extended the state of emergency on immigration. Each decree is limited to 60 days, but in fact it is systematically renewed. The DeSantis administration told WLRN that this measure will remain in effect as long as undocumented immigrants are present in the Sunshine State.
Democrats have denounced this as an abuse of power, arguing that the extensions of the decree allow DeSantis to circumvent more than 20 laws, including those on competitive bidding, public transparency, licensing, and security.
Democratic Senator Tina Polsky pointed out that these executive orders allowed Republicans to create the detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” In response to this situation, Democratic lawmakers have introduced several bills: to end the immigration executive order (SCR 704), to limit the number of possible renewals (SB 700/HB 621), and to establish a database to track the measures taken (SB 708). Lori Berman, the Democratic leader in the Senate, called the practice “unchecked abuse of executive power.” She accuses the governor of suspending rules he does not want to enforce, but the final outcome remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether Republicans will agree to support the bills introduced by Democratic lawmakers.
Two detention centers in the dock
A 48-page report by Amnesty International accuses two migrant detention centers in Florida of serious violations of international law, which may amount to torture. These are the Krome federal center and, above all, the state center located in the Everglades, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The organization denounces prolonged solitary confinement at Krome and the existence at Alligator Alcatraz of a 60 cm by 60 cm punitive “box” where detainees are chained, exposed to the sun, and deprived of food and water. Four migrants also mentioned inadequate medical conditions, violence, racism, regularly overflowing toilets, and constant lighting. Some even report having been punished for asking for help or demanding their basic rights.
According to WLRN, the state of Florida and the Department of Homeland Security categorically reject these accusations. They claim that the centers comply with federal standards and deny any deaths or inhumane treatment.
58 children from Florida leave the United States following the deportation of their parents
On December 4, at Miami Airport, seven children aged 3 to 15 left the United States due to mass deportations carried out by the Trump administration. Three of them are U.S. citizens, and most grew up in Florida: the Sunshine State is their home base. These seven children are among 58 young people helped this year by the Guatemala-Maya Center to join deported parents or leave with a parent to avoid being separated. The organization has also established power of attorney for 200 other children whose parents feel threatened with arrest and fear for what might happen to them.
A couple of volunteers accompanied the children on their flight to Guatemala, denouncing to the Miami Herald a “sad and cruel” situation in which only the children “lose.”
In the southeastern part of the state, arrests are increasing, particularly in Lake Worth Beach in Palm Beach County. According to the city’s municipal commissioner, many families are being forced to make difficult decisions, as many of the children are U.S. citizens while their parents are not.
