VP Vance Brushes Off Talk of 2028 Presidential Bid, Prefers Fishing Tales Across The Pond
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Miami Herald
18 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Florida's illegal immigration detention center is a constitutional nightmare
In the heart of the Everglades — sacred ground for Native American tribes and ecological treasures — Gov. Ron DeSantis has carved something unthinkable: an unregulated and patently unconstitutional detention center for immigrants. Republicans have mockingly dubbed it Alligator Alcatraz, evoking racist nostalgia for the 1950s treatment of Black Americans dumped in Miami swamps. This grotesque history now repeats. This swamp prison is not a federal facility run by ICE, but a state-run black non-site imprisoning people for political theater with $500 million of Florida taxpayer money annually. Though described by Florida's attorney general as a 'low-cost, temporary detention facility,' the truth is far more sinister. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. Florida has no legal authority to detain immigrants simply for being undocumented unless that person is also charged with a state crime or subject to a federal detainer. Even then, a judicial hearing must be held within 48 hours to determine probable cause for arrest. This is guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment. Yet those imprisoned in this Everglades camp hellhole — many with no criminal record — are held indefinitely without charges, hearings or meaningful access to legal counsel. That is not immigration enforcement; this is state-sponsored kidnapping. In holding immigrants as political pawns, DeSantis' message is clear: cruelty is intended. The suffering and neglect should horrify every American. The facility floods routinely. Toilets often don't flush. The food is scarce, often a sandwich. Medical care is nonexistent. This is not a detention facility. It is a constitutional crime scene. There is no space for attorney-client meetings. Lawyers are turned away or forced to communicate through fences and chain-link barriers — in plain violation of the Fifth Amendment right to counsel. The state of Florida ignores these protections and in response activists have begun filing suit. Moreover, the Everglades — home to endangered species and a UNESCO World Heritage site — is environmentally and culturally desecrated. The Miccosukee and Seminole peoples, who have lived in harmony with their sacred land for centuries, now fight back — suing to block the project because it violates environmental law and their sovereign treaty rights. One lawsuit this week prompted a temporary stop to construction at the camp. But DeSantis has bulldozed ahead, prioritizing ideology over ecology and cruelty over conservation. Even ICE — not known for its compassion — has distanced itself from this disaster, confirming that this is not a federal facility. If that is true, then ICE has no legal oversight, and detention is occurring outside any authorized federal immigration process. Thus, those imprisoned here are held solely by the state of Florida, which cannot incarcerate people who have not committed a state crime. This is not a gray area but a flashing red alert. The Constitution allows only the federal government to detain for immigration enforcement, and even then, only within the bounds of due process. Even if Florida claims to hold undocumented immigrants on ICE's behalf, it is in direct violation of the Fourth Amendment. This is the time for bold legal action. Every person detained is entitled to immediate release or a judicial hearing. Lawyers should file habeas corpus petitions in federal court now. Civil rights lawsuits under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 should be brought against every Florida official responsible. The Justice department should open a civil rights investigation. Congress must hold hearings. And if this facility is allowed to stand — if the courts do not act, if the public does not resist — then it will not be the last. The architecture of tyranny is modular. This is not just about immigration; this is a moral disgrace, an environmental catastrophe, a violation of tribal sovereignty and a constitutional abomination. It must be shut down. The Constitution applies everywhere — even in the Everglades. Justice cannot be confined by geography or politics. If you or someone you know is detained in this facility, fight back with every legal tool available. Our democracy depends on standing up to unlawful detention and demanding accountabilitybefore more lives are needlessly destroyed in this swamp of injustice. Irwin P. Stotzky is a professor at the University of Miami School of Law. The views expressed here are solely the author's and not that of the university.
Business Insider
19 minutes ago
- Business Insider
U.S. Senate confirms Trump's nominee to lead U.S. Africa Command: What it means for Africa
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson as the next commander of its Africa Command (AFRICOM), marking a significant shift in American engagement with the continent under President Donald Trump. The U.S. Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson as the new commander of AFRICOM This leadership transition occurs amid strategic challenges posed by Russian and Chinese influence and expanding African initiatives. Anderson aims to enhance diplomatic ties and regional stability while addressing emerging geopolitical dynamics within the continent. Anderson, the first Air Force officer to ever lead US AFRICOM in its history, will officially replace Marine Gen. Michael Langley, who made history in 2022 as the first Black four-star Marine. During his tenure, Langley focused on counterterrorism partnerships in West Africa, tracking illicit gold flows that finance extremist groups. Langley's leadership was widely regarded as steady and collaborative, fostering cooperation with A frican partners in intelligence sharing and regional counterterrorism efforts, particularly against al-Shabaab in Somalia and Islamic State affiliates in the Sahel. However, U.S. influence in some major parts of the Sahel region eroded, during his tenure, with several military juntas cutting ties with Western forces and welcoming Russian private military contractors. Meanwhile, Chinese investments in ports, telecoms, and energy projects expanded, giving Beijing growing leverage over African infrastructure. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson inherits AFRICOM at a strategic crossroads, particularly amid President Trump's "America First, Africa Strong" policy framework, which blends a heightened military posture with targeted commercial engagement. Unlike previous administrations, Washington may prioritize strategic investments in sectors like mining, energy, and digital infrastructure alongside a more assertive security presence. Potential U.S. Engagement In Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Côte d'Ivoire, this could mean expanded military training, counterterrorism funding, and infrastructure support to stabilize conflict-prone regions. In Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and one of the continent's biggest oil producers, U.S. engagement may lean towards safeguarding energy production in the Niger Delta, improving coastal security in the Gulf of Guinea, and countering Chinese-built telecoms networks. Kenya, as a long-time counterterrorism partner, could see expanded cooperation in drone surveillance, anti-piracy patrols, and digital infrastructure projects aimed at securing East Africa's trade corridors. Algeria, a major military power in North Africa, may find U.S. outreach shaped by competition with Russia for arms sales and influence over Mediterranean security. South Africa, meanwhile, is likely to face diplomatic pressure over its BRICS ties while benefiting from potential American investment in renewable energy and port upgrades. In light of these developments, Anderson, who had previously commanded the U.S. Special Operations Command Africa described Africa as ' the center of a great-power rivalry, ' At his confirmation hearing. He warned that both Russia and China ' see their futures running through the continent. ' highlighting China's growing network of military-to-military engagements and its push for dual-use ports on the Atlantic, describing them as 'worrisome' for U.S. maritime security. During the hearing, Anderson said, 'I believe that the Russian influence and information operations were critical in turning populations against the French in the Sahel. ' He also noted, 'I think it is very much not in our interest what the Russians are doing in the information domain,' When Asked whether the U.S. is losing the 'war for truth,' he replied, ' The truth is incredibly powerful… we need to be more aggressive… if we do not engage, we risk losing it. ' Beyond security concerns, Anderson lauded the $1.2 billion investment by the Trump administration in the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital. He emphasized that AFRICOM could serve as a bridge between American investors and African partners, ensuring security considerations are integrated into major projects. For African governments, Anderson's appointment could bring both opportunities and challenges. His record suggests more robust U.S. military cooperation for states aligned with Washington's security agenda, but also greater scrutiny of countries deepening ties with China or Russia.
Atlantic
19 minutes ago
- Atlantic
Trump Is a Degrowther
In the past few weeks, Americans learned that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled half a billion dollars of government investment in the development of mRNA vaccines, Las Vegas saw a 7 percent drop in visitors, residential electricity prices shot up by an average of 6.5 percent, the number of housing permits issued hit their lowest point in half a decade, employers quit adding workers, the manufacturing sector shrank, and inflation rose. These bleak figures depict an American economy slowing and its labor market weakening. A recession isn't guaranteed, but it's becoming much more likely and the stagflation that forecasters described as inevitable when President Donald Trump began prosecuting his global trade war is now a lot closer. Americans, now and in the future, will be paying more and buying less. Trump's second-term economic ideology is not only one of protectionism, mercantilism, atavism, and cronyism. It is also one of degrowth. Trump, who entered the White House promising to slash prices on household goods and supercharge the American economy, would never use that term himself. Degrowth—the notion that wealthy countries can and should reduce their consumption and production—is associated with environmental activists and leftist and green parties in Europe. Still, at its heart, degrowth argues that people should not only tolerate but desire a smaller economy. That's second-term Trumponomics, and everyone stands to be worse off for it. Without admitting it, the White House is pursuing a multipronged strategy to raise prices, suppress consumption, freeze production, and lower productivity in the United States. The trade war is the most obvious example, as well as the one having the most immediate consequences. Since January, Trump has raised and lowered and raised tariffs on goods imported from American allies around the world. Such barriers will eliminate the country's bilateral trade deficits and boost domestic manufacturing, the White House has promised, while warning that consumers and employers might have to endure a chaotic period of adjustment. But Trump has slapped tariffs on commodities and parts that factories use to make things in America, such as engine components and timber. He has slapped tariffs on products that are not or cannot be produced here, such as bananas and gallium. And he has slapped tariffs on items that would be too expensive for American consumers to purchase if they were made in this country, given the cost of American wages and the network of factories in operation, such as costume jewelry and sneakers. The Yale Budget Lab estimates that the country's effective tariff rate now stands at 18.3 percent, the highest since 1934. Prices are beginning to rise as importers pass the cost of Trump's import taxes on to retailers and families. Industrial production is falling, as uncertainty plagues the sector. In response, Trump has argued with reality. 'We're only in a TRANSITION STAGE, just getting started!!! Consumers have been waiting for years to see pricing come down,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'NO INFLATION,' he added, pointing to egg and gas prices. But those are just two of 80,000 prices the government tracks each month to calculate the overall inflation rate. The cost of eggs has declined as the bird-flu pandemic has waned; the price at the pump has gone down due to weaker global growth and increased OPEC production. Across the economy, costs have remained witheringly high, despite the Federal Reserve combatting them with high interest rates. If the Fed cut borrowing costs, inflation would climb. Trump's campaign against reality extends beyond the price of consumer goods. Unhappy with the pace of employment growth, the president canned the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 'Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'They can't be manipulated for political purposes.' (Touché.) Unhappy with Fed policy, he has threatened to put Jerome Powell, his own appointee, 'out to pasture.' At the same time as he has prosecuted his bizarre unilateral war on imports, Trump has reduced government subsidies for a range of necessities. He has taken $1 trillion away from Medicaid, while vowing not to reduce the program's budget. He has cut food-stamp benefits, meaning low-income families will buy fewer groceries. He has eliminated support for the loans and grants that poor kids rely on to get a higher education. And he has slashed financing for renewable-energy production. Each of these policies will raise costs and reduce supply. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for instance, is expected to eliminate 1.6 million green-energy jobs and reduce electricity-generation capacity by 330 gigawatts by 2035. (That's roughly equivalent to the country's current solar-production capacity.) Americans a decade from now will pay higher prices for electricity and will use less of it, thanks to Trump. Right now, the United States is suffering from shortages—yes, shortages—of immigrants and visitors. Tourist meccas around the country are reeling as visitors from Europe and Asia opt to take their euros and yen elsewhere. Farms and nursing facilities are suffering from a lack of workers. Global investors are opting to park their money abroad, raising domestic borrowing costs and weakening the dollar. In the long term, Trump's attack on colleges and scientific-research institutions might end up being the most damaging of his degrowth policies. The American system of higher education—for all of its many, many faults—is an engine of global modernity. The country's land-grant schools help feed the world. Its public colleges vault poor kids up the income ladder. Its name-brand universities are laboratories of scientific innovation. But for the crime of supporting Black and brown kids, admitting foreign students, and hiring liberal thinkers, these institutions are under assault. The mathematician Terence Tao, described by some of his contemporaries as a latter-day Albert Einstein, might not be able to continue his research at UCLA, because of Trump's budget cuts. What good could possibly come of that? The same good that will come from slashing financing for mRNA-vaccine research, meant to prevent cancer and end pandemics. 'I've tried to be objective & non-alarmist in response to current HHS actions—but quite frankly this move is going to cost lives,' argued Jerome Adams, a physician who served as surgeon general during the first Trump administration. As a counterweight, the White House has cut taxes and slashed regulations, for some industries at least. The wealthy stand to do just fine in the Trump economy—happy, I suppose, to have a smaller pie if they get a bigger piece of it. Yet Trumpian degrowth will hurt them, too, in time. Rich people purchase homes and sneakers and bananas, and send their kids to college. Rich people use energy. Rich people hire workers to provide them with home-health support and staff their businesses. And rich people use vaccines and require cancer treatments. Unlike typical degrowthers—with their focus on long-term human flourishing and the conservation of the planetary ecosystem—Trump is engaged in financial nihilism. The president has, at least once, admitted that his policies will lead to Americans having less instead of more: 'Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know? And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.' If only that was the worst of it.
