Florida's immigration crackdown week
Good morning and happy Friday.
Immigration has been a top issue driving discussions and decision-making in Tallahassee this year. But the topic dominated headlines across the state this week possibly more than any other time since January.
The week started with the DeSantis administration celebrating a map released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that showed Florida, more than any other state, had leveraged the help of local police to identify and remove undocumented people. And by Thursday, the state assisted with one of Florida's largest-ever raids in Tallahassee.
Gov. RON DESANTIS praised the raid as a 'major bust,' while one of his spokespeople, SIERRA DEAN, joked that the blue-speckled map ICE published was the only instance the public would see the state turn blue during the governor's term. State Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER delivered an alliterative review: 'Detain. Deport. Deliver for the American people.'
More than 30 people were arrested Thursday of about 100 detained, reported USA Today Network — Florida and Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald. Tampa's Homeland Security Investigation's unit said on X that some had previously been deported or had criminal backgrounds, but others who were questioned appeared not to have been living here illegally.
It was all the latest instance of Florida working to carry out President DONALD TRUMP's agenda, especially when it comes to illegal immigration. Last month, ICE and local law enforcement arrested more than 1,100 people during a six-day crackdown.
But it hasn't been all smooth sailing. Though DeSantis signed a sweeping illegal immigration bill into law earlier this year, a portion of the law that makes it illegal for undocumented people to enter Florida has been blocked in court.
On Thursday, one of Uthmeier's lawyers faced questions in Miami over the state AG potentially being held in contempt of court over that law. While Uthmeier wasn't present for the hearing, U.S. District Judge KATHLEEN WILLIAMS — an Obama-era appointee — sharply criticized him for comments he made that seemed to undermine her order.
Williams raised not only a letter Uthmeier wrote, but news interviews. She loosely quoted one from Newsmax, saying there were 'buckets' more to choose from, where Uthmeier said he would not 'rubber stamp' Williams' orders or 'bow down and withhold my oath.' He further argued that a judge 'can't order people around who are not under the jurisdiction of the court.'
Uthmeier's attorney, JESSE PANUCCIO urged the judge to focus on the letter alone. He argued Uthmeier was merely stating his opinion on her ruling without undermining the court's orders — pointing out that arrests haven't occurred under the new law since Uthmeier first notified law enforcement of the block.
As the judge weighs her decision, what jumps out about Uthmeier's public comments on the judiciary is how much they mirror those of Trump and his allies, who've argued that judges aren't allowed to control the power of the executive branch as questions swirl over whether they'll openly defy multiple orders to halt the president's agenda.
And remember: It remains an open question whether Trump will get behind Uthmeier's 2026 election or select a handpicked alternative.
WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis is holding a press conference in Jupiter with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
'FREE KILL' VETOED — 'DeSantis on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have expanded malpractice claims filed against doctors, saying the measure would lead to a spike in frivolous cases and an exodus of medical professionals from the state,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian.
'Florida's current malpractice law bans adults and parents from claiming pain and suffering in a malpractice suit, instead only allowing for consideration of economic damages. FL HB6017 (25R) sought to remove the ban on pain and suffering, which DeSantis said would open the floodgates for more lawsuits, driving up malpractice insurance claims and compelling droves of doctors to leave the state.'
GOV ON UF PRESIDENT CONTROVERSY — 'DeSantis gave a tepid response Thursday to the University of Florida's decision to hire University of Michigan President Santa Ono — as key conservatives push to quash the move over Ono's past support of diversity, equity and inclusion programs,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury.
'Florida's GOP governor acknowledged statements from Ono that have triggered Republican blowback made him 'cringe.' But he expressed faith in the University of Florida trustee board's determination that the school leader 'reached the limit on campus leftism.''
The governor said: 'People are saying, 'Well, you know, you could have woke here.' No, that's not going to happen, because if he were to go in and do that, he will lose his job in Florida.'
SENTENCED — 'An Everglades scientist found guilty of contempt of court will surrender in July to serve a 10-day jail sentence, according to a judge's order issued Thursday,' reports Jenny Staletovich of WLRN.
'Tom Van Lent was sentenced to time behind bars after the Everglades Foundation accused him of stealing trade secrets three years ago. Van Lent denied stealing protected documents, but a judge found him guilty of criminal contempt after he disobeyed an order to stop deleting information from his computers. Van Lent said he was erasing personal documents.'
— 'Chamber summit: Amid controversy, Casey DeSantis pitches Hope Florida to business community,' reports Drew Wilson of Florida Politics.
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
TODAY — Florida A&M University's board of directors will meet at 2 p.m. to talk about the compensation for incoming president MARVA JOHNSON, reports Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat. They've already agreed on a salary range of $450,000 to $750,000.
— 'St. Cloud prevents Pride Month proclamation on Pulse anniversary through blanket 'pause,'' reports Natalia Jaramillo of the Orlando Sentinel.
— 'Dynasty city: How three Miami families may extend their decades of political power,' by the Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks and Tess Riski.
...HURRICANE HOLE...
TALLYING THE BILL — The Miami Herald has estimated the cost of putting together hurricane kits ahead of this year's season, including water, non-perishable food and a weather radio.
STORM SAVINGS — 'Squabbling legislators have kept the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from landing as the new windstorm season starts June 1, but a new state website shows how homeowners can save even bigger bucks,' reports Anne Geggis of the Palm Beach post. 'The website … explains how hurricane-proofing a home not only fortifies against Mother Nature's wrath, it could also soften the hit from paying windstorm insurance premiums if homeowners follow certain steps.'
… As for the hurricane preparedness tax holiday: DeSantis thinks it should be reinstated, he said during a press conference Thursday in Fort Myers. But as Gray Rohrer from USA Today Network — Florida noted, with hurricane season starting Sunday it won't happen ahead of the peak storm period as it usually does, given that the budget is still in limbo.
— 'Vital hurricane hunter missions scrapped due to aircraft issues, cap on crew flight hours,' reports Kimberly Miller of the Palm Beach Post.
CAMPAIGN MODE
LOCAL CANDIDATE BACKING — Ruth's List Florida, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, has released its endorsement of candidates running for local office: MIRA TANNA for Orlando City Council District 3, KYANDRA DARLING for Florida House District 62, LAURA DOMINGUEZ for re-election to the Miami Beach City Commission, and state Rep. LAVON BRACY DAVIS for Florida Senate District 15.
— 'Maxwell Frost backs LaVon Bracy Davis in the race to succeed Geraldine Thompson,' reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics.
— 'Conservative social media personality threatens Lakeland with legal action,' by Sara-Megan Walsh of the Lakeland Ledger.
TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP
IMPERSONATOR — 'Federal authorities are investigating a clandestine effort to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to people familiar with the matter, after an unknown individual reached out to prominent Republicans and business executives pretending to be her,' reports Josh Dawsey of the Wall Street Journal.
'In recent weeks, senators, governors, top U.S. business executives and other well-known figures have received text messages and phone calls from a person who claimed to be the chief of staff, the people familiar with the messages said.'
— 'Todd Chrisley released from Florida prison, Julie from Kentucky. What to know about Trump pardon,' by USA Today Network — Florida.
— 'Trump pardons Jupiter shark divers who destroyed a fisherman's longline, released catch,' by Hannah Phillips of the Palm Beach Post.
DATELINE D.C.
ETHICS SPOTLIGHT — 'A congressional watchdog office has found reason to believe that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick requested community project funding, also known as earmarks, on behalf of a for-profit entity — a potential violation of House rules,' reports POLITICO's Hailey Fuchs and Nicholas Wu.
'The findings of a new report made public Thursday by the Office of Congressional Conduct — which reviews outside ethics complaints against House members and recommends further action to the House Ethics Committee — builds on the allegations the Florida Democrat has been facing since 2023.'
HOPE FLORIDA SCRUTINY HEADED TO DC — Sen. RICK SCOTT told reporters during a press conference in Pensacola that Florida Chief Deputy Attorney General JOHN GUARD — whom Trump nominated as judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida — would face questions about his involvement in Hope Florida during confirmation hearings, report Jim Little and Edward Bunch III of the Pensacola News Journal.
DISTURBING CONDITIONS — 'A member of Congress who made an unannounced visit to the Krome North Service Processing Center in southwest Miami-Dade County said migrants in deportation proceedings are being subjected to overcrowded and inhumane conditions where they are forced to carry out bodily functions without privacy,' reports Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald.
LATEST STOCK TRADES — 'Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and his wife, Erika Donalds, bought or sold between $8,008 and $120,000 worth of stock on April 10, a week after Trump's tariff declaration, according to a NOTUS review of new congressional financial disclosures,' David Levinthal reported.
— 'Congress could kill rooftop solar tax credits used by Florida homeowners,' reports Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times.
ALL ABOARD — Rep. GREG STEUBE (R-Fla.) has introduced legislation that would require the DC Metro's governing body to be renamed Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA) and Metrorail the 'Trump Train' — or otherwise lose federal funding.
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Kaylee Tuck … former Rep. Dan Miller … Marco Rubio alum Rob Noel … former state Rep. Julio Gonzalez … former state Rep. Dwight Dudley … (Saturday) Elizabeth Dos Santos of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's office ... former state Sen. Charlie Dean … former state Sen. Daryl Jones … (Sunday) state Sen. Danny Burgess … Tallahassee Democrat's Jeff Burlew … Lyndee Rose of LOTUS Strategies … journalist Jake Stofan of Action News Jax.
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Milwaukee, other Wisconsin 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed as defying federal immigration law
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His brother, Wojciech, 24, an IT manager, said he did not vote in the first round and probably would not on Sunday. Given the grip of the two main parties, he said, 'I don't believe my vote can change anything.' Tusk, 68, and Kaczynski, 75, first entered politics more than 40 years ago when Poland was still a Soviet satellite. After Poland joined the European Union in 2004 -- 15 years after communism collapsed -- they emerged as leaders of two hostile camps: one committed to embracing the values and rules of the European Union, the other infused with nationalism and fealty to the Roman Catholic Church. They have rotated in and out of power since, leaving Polish politics in a repetitive loop. Kaczynski accuses Tusk of being a 'German agent' more interested in serving Berlin and Brussels than ordinary Poles. Tusk has attacked his rival as a populist reactionary intent on dismantling democracy and withdrawing Poland from the European Union. Advertisement Trzaskowski won the first round barely ahead of Nawrocki. Whether Trzaskowski can prevail on Sunday depends heavily on how young voters who backed the far right and leftists in the first round cast their ballots. A widespread plague-on-both-your-houses feeling among younger Poles has brought unusual volatility to politics, said Tomasz Slupik, a political-science professor at the University of Silesia. Only 22 percent of voters under 30, according to exit poll data, cast their ballots in the first round for the two candidates competing on Sunday. Nearly 70 percent voted instead for far-right candidates and fringe leftists, with more than half of them supporting Slawomir Mentzen, a libertarian who is hostile to Ukrainian refugees, taxes, and the European Union. 'This might be the beginning of the end of Poland's party duopoly,' Slupik said. Young voters' disillusionment, he added, was partly the rebellious spirit of youth amplified by social media. But, he added, it also reflected a deeper erosion of trust across generations, despite Poland's booming economy and its emergence as a diplomatic and military player in Europe. The Polish presidency has no say in setting policy, but its veto power over legislation passed by the government allowed the departing president, Andrzej Duda, an ally of Kaczynski, to thwart much of Tusk's agenda. Victory for Nawrocki on Sunday would probably mean more trench warfare between the rival camps, hobbling Tusk's ability to govern and clouding his party's prospects in the next parliamentary election in 2027. Speaking at a rally for Trzaskowski in Warsaw last weekend, Tusk warned this would bring disaster, describing Nawrocki as a 'gangster' unfit for the presidency. 'Poland, wake up! This cannot be!' he said. Advertisement Anna Liebner, 29, a Tychy resident who manages fiber optic networks, said she voted in the first round for Adrian Zandberg, a leftist who came in sixth in the first round. Liebner liked some of his policy ideas, including higher taxes on the wealthy. Kamil Poczta, 30, an IT worker, said he, too, had voted for Zandberg in the hope of breaking the Civic Platform-Law and Justice cycle. Nonetheless, Poczta and Liebner both said they would vote for Trzaskowski. More uncertain is which way Mentzen's voters, mostly young men, will jump, though a recent opinion poll indicated that around 65 percent of them would vote for Nawrocki. If that turns out to be accurate, Nawrocki could well win. This article originally appeared in
