Written by Debbie Deland / vp@flnow.org

October 2025 — Florida

In the heart of the Everglades, a sprawling tent city known as Alligator Alcatraz has become a symbol of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Over 1,000 detainees have “administratively disappeared”—their families and attorneys unable to locate them through any federal system. This is not a bureaucratic error. It’s a deliberate erosion of human rights.

A joint report from Human Rights Watch, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and Sanctuary of the South documents abuses at three Florida detention centers: Krome North, Broward Transitional, and the Federal Detention Center in Miami. The findings are harrowing:

Key Findings

• Overcrowding: Krome’s population tripled in early 2025, exceeding its operational capacity by nearly 300%
• Disappearances: 800+ detainees at Alligator Alcatraz were untraceable in ICE’s locator system; 450 had no listed location
• Medical Neglect: At least two deaths linked to denial of insulin, asthma inhalers, and emergency care
• Torture & Degradation:
  • Detainees forced to sleep on concrete floors without bedding
  • Verbal abuse and threats from guards
  • Lack of showers, hygiene products, or clean water

• Legal Isolation: Attorneys report being unable to contact clients; ICE offers no clear channels for access
• Environmental Hazards: Alligator Alcatraz briefly shut down by a federal judge for violating environmental protections, then reopened by appeals court

Systemic Drivers

• Project 2025 calls for mass detention and deportation, including indefinite suspension of immigration law during “migration emergencies”
• Florida’s SB 1718 mandates local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, expanding detention pipelines
• FEMA funds are being diverted to support state-run camps like Alligator Alcatraz, originally meant for humanitarian shelter

Written by Debbie Deland / vp@flnow.org

Florida is diving into a politically charged and unprecedented mid-decade redistricting effort ahead of the 2026 elections.

Why Is Florida Redistricting Now?

• Redistricting usually happens once a decade after the U.S. Census. Florida last redrew its congressional map in 2022.
• Now, Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Speaker Daniel Perez are pushing for a new round of redistricting—just three years later.
• The move follows President Trump’s call for Republican-led states to redraw maps to secure more GOP seats in Congress.

Who’s Involved?

• The Florida House has formed a Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting, chaired by Rep. Mike Redondo.
• The Florida Senate, however, has not yet taken steps toward redistricting.
• DeSantis and Perez are aligned on this issue, despite their brewing rivalry over future statewide races.

What’s at Stake?

• Florida currently has 20 Republican and 8 Democratic congressional seats.
• Analysts say the state is already heavily gerrymandered, making it difficult to carve out more GOP-leaning districts.
• A new map could shift district boundaries, forcing candidates to campaign in unfamiliar areas and potentially displacing incumbents.

Public Reaction

• A recent poll shows 55% of Florida voters oppose mid-decade redistricting—including a plurality of Republicans.
• 76% of voters prefer an independent commission to draw maps, rather than the Legislature.
• Critics, including Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, call the move a “backroom power grab”.

What’s Next?

• The House committee is expected to begin meetings this fall.
• Legal challenges are likely, especially from advocacy groups concerned about racial and partisan gerrymandering.
• The new map could be in place for the 2026 midterm elections, reshaping Florida’s political landscape.

Written by Debbie Deland / vp@flnow.org

Temporary Protected Status: What It Is and Why Cancellations Matter

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian safeguard granted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to foreign nationals who cannot safely return to their home countries due to armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary conditions. TPS allows recipients to live and work legally in the U.S. for a designated period, without fear of deportation.

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