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.