With Alligator Alcatraz, Florida cements top spot in federal deportation mission
Tuesday's showcase of the immigration detention facility, comprised of tents and trailers on an isolated airstrip in the Everglades, caps months of activity led by Gov. Ron DeSantis and state lawmakers to build a broad, state-coordinated law enforcement apparatus to deport people from Florida who are in the country illegally.
It's the culmination of a mission DeSantis trumpeted in January, soon after Trump took office.
Trump toured the detention center Tuesday, along with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, both of whom heaped praise on how Florida has led the nation in arresting, detaining and deporting undocumented migrants.
'This facility is exactly what I want every single governor in this country to consider doing with us,' said Noem. She said she hopes other states will soon begin asking: 'How can we do what Florida just did?'
Alligator Alcatraz, which will eventually hold up to 3,000 detainees, is being called the largest immigrant detention facility in the country. More than a dozen private companies are working with the state to operate the remote facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, officials said Tuesday. DeSantis seized the land from Miami-Dade County using a continuation of an emergency order he issued in 2023 amid an influx of Cuban migrants coming to the Florida Keys. The facility is expected to cost $450 million per year to operate.
'We're all in on this,' DeSantis said Tuesday. 'This is a force multiplier for the president's efforts.... There is no reason why other states can't be doing this.'
Tuesday's event was also a political opportunity to display a united Florida Republican front in the midst of numerous intraparty disagreements. For months, top state officials have been bickering about how best to deport people and positioning for Trump's approval in the upcoming 2026 midterm races for governor, attorney general and other key positions.
Trump noted that he and DeSantis 'may have had some skirmishes' and may still have more. But Trump said he will 'always come back because we have blood that seems to match pretty well.'
Trump thanked several state officials who helped open the facility, including Attorney General James Uthmeier, who is running for a full four-year term in his role in 2026.
'Where is James? I hear good things about you from Ron, too. He's even a good-looking guy, he's got a future,' Trump said.
Trump has not yet endorsed in the GOP attorney general primary, but he has in the governor's race. His pick, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, was also present at Tuesday's Alligator Alcatraz opening event.
Both Florida's Republican Party and Uthmeier have in recent days capitalized on the catchy zing of the Alligator Alcatraz name by selling themed merchandise.
Uthmeier's offerings include golf balls for $20, buttons at $5 apiece and a $30 T-shirt with 'Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide' printed on the back. The sales will help fund his 2026 campaign.
Trump has pledged to deport 1 million undocumented immigrants annually, with an end goal of between 15 and 20 million people removed from the country by the end of his second term.
While he toured the immigration facility, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that includes tens of billions of dollars in new federal money for immigration enforcement — opening the door for similar detention projects around the country.
Over the last six months, Florida has:
▪ Allocated $298 million for immigration enforcement. This includes hiring more than 50 new law enforcement officers focused on immigration, along with training grants and bonuses for officers who assist with federal deportations.
▪ Cleared another $3 million in the 2025 state budget to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to award grants to local jails that are under construction and have contracted with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to support immigration enforcement efforts.
▪ Deputized more state law enforcement officers than any other state under a provision in federal immigration law known as 287(g). The provision allows ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specific immigration officer functions.
▪ Passed laws that expand the authority for state agencies to work with ICE and mandating state and local agency participation in federal deportation programs. The state also imposes $5,000 fines and suspension from office for local officials who refuse to comply with ICE directives.
▪ Approved a law making it a state crime to enter Florida as an undocumented immigrant. Although the measure has been temporarily suspended by courts, Florida officials arrested dozens under the provision anyway.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
37 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Man who killed his family after his wife sought a divorce is set for execution in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A man who killed his wife and two children in 1994 after she sought a divorce is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Edward J. Zakrzewski, II, is set to die July 31 in the ninth execution scheduled for this year in the state. He pleaded guilty in 1996 to three counts of first-degree murder and received three death sentences in the killings of wife Sylvia Zakrzewski, son Edward Zakrzewski, 7, and Anna Zakrzewski, 5. The man beat his wife with a crowbar and machete and strangled her to death and killed the children with a machete June 9, 1994, in Okaloosa County. He eventually turned himself into law enforcement after the case was profiled on the television show 'Unsolved Mysteries,' according to court documents. Another man on death row, Michael Bernard Bell , 54, is set to die by lethal injection July 15 at Florida State Prison. He's convicted of killing two people outside a bar. Thomas Lee Gudinas , 51, who was convicted of raping and killing a woman in Florida, was executed following a lethal injection at the same prison last week. The state also executed six people in 2023 but only carried out one execution last year. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CNBC
42 minutes ago
- CNBC
What the Senate Republican tax-and-spending bill means for your money
Senate Republicans on Tuesday approved their version of President Donald Trump 's multitrillion-dollar tax-and-spending package, which could broadly impact millions of Americans' wallets. Similar to the House's One Big Beautiful Bill Act advanced in May, the Senate legislation aims to make permanent Trump's 2017 tax cuts, while adding new tax breaks for tip income, overtime pay and auto loans, among other provisions. If enacted, the bill could also slash spending on social safety net programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, end tax credits tied to clean energy and overhaul student loans. The spending package could still see changes as it returns to the lower chamber for approval. But a House floor vote could come this week to meet Trump's July 4 deadline. Here are some of the key provisions to watch — and how those measures could affect household finances. How to read this guide Follow along from start to finish, or use the table of contents to jump to the section(s) you want to learn more about. 'SALT' deduction Since 2018, the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT, has been a critical issue for certain lawmakers in high-tax states such as New York, New Jersey and California. The SALT deduction — which lets taxpayers who itemize deduct all or some of their state and local income and property taxes — was unlimited for filers before 2018. But the alternative minimum tax reduced the benefit for some wealthier Americans. A sticking point for some House lawmakers, the lower chamber approved a permanent $40,000 SALT limit starting in 2025. That benefit begins to phaseout, or decrease, for consumers who have more than $500,000 of income. The Senate version of the bill would also lift the cap to $40,000 starting in 2025. It also begins to phaseout at $500,000. Both figures would increase by 1% yearly through 2029, and the $40,000 limit would revert to $10,000 in 2030. If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper middle-income. "If you raise the cap, the people who benefit the most are going to be upper middle-income," since lower earners typically don't itemize tax deductions, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, previously told CNBC. The Senate bill also preserves a SALT cap workaround for pass-through businesses, which allows owners to avoid the $10,000 SALT limit. By contrast, the House bill would eliminate the strategy for certain white-collar professionals. — Kate Dore The child tax credit gives families with qualifying dependent children a tax break. It's a credit, so it reduces their tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Trump's 2017 tax cuts temporarily boosted the maximum child tax credit to $2,000 from $1,000, an increase that will sunset after 2025 without an extension from Congress. If enacted, the Senate bill would permanently bump the biggest credit to $2,200 starting in 2025 and index this figure for inflation starting in 2026. Momo Productions | Getty Meanwhile, the House version of the bill lifts the top child tax credit to $2,500 from 2025 through 2028. After 2028, the credit's highest value would revert to $2,000 and be indexed for inflation. However, the proposed bills wouldn't help 17 million children from low-income families who don't earn enough to claim the full credit, according to Elaine Maag, senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. — Kate Dore Older Americans may receive an extra tax deduction under the legislation. Both the House and Senate called for a temporary enhanced deduction for Americans ages 65 and over, dubbed a "bonus," in their respective versions of the "big beautiful" bill. The Senate proposed raising the deduction to $6,000 per qualifying individual, up from $4,000 proposed by the House. The full deduction would be available to individuals with up to $75,000 in modified adjusted gross income, and $150,000 if married and filing jointly. Notably, the Senate version would phase out at a faster rate for taxpayers who are above those thresholds. Ultimately, middle-income taxpayers may benefit most from the enhanced deduction, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, recently told CNBC. The senior bonus is in lieu of eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, which had been touted by the Trump administration, since changes to Social Security are generally prohibited in reconciliation legislation. — Lorie Konish As Republicans seek to slash federal spending, Medicaid, which provides health coverage for more than 71 million people, has been a target for those cuts in both House and Senate versions of the bill. The Senate version would cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid, compared with more than $800 billion in cuts in the House version, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. New federal work rules would require beneficiaries ages 19 to 64 who apply for coverage or who are enrolled through an Affordable Care Act expansion group to work at least 80 hours per month. Adults may be exempt if they have dependent children or other qualifying circumstances such as a medical condition. Notably, the Senate version of the bill proposed stricter limits on exemptions for parents, limiting it to those with dependent children ages 14 and under. The proposed Medicaid changes would also require states to conduct eligibility redeterminations for coverage every six months, rather than every 12 months based on current policy. About 7.8 million people could become uninsured by 2034 due to Medicaid cuts, the CBO has projected, based on the House bill. — Lorie Konish Both Senate and House versions of the "big beautiful" bill propose cuts to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. The cuts in the Senate bill may ultimately affect more than 40 million people, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That includes about 16 million children, 8 million seniors and 4 million non-elderly adults with disabilities, among others, according to CBPP, a nonpartisan research and policy institute. Many states would be required to pay a percentage for food benefits to make up for the federal funding cuts. If they cannot make up for the funding losses, that could result in cuts to SNAP benefits or states opting out of the program altogether, according to CBPP. The Senate proposal also seeks to expand existing work requirements to include adults ages 55 to 64 and parents with children 14 and over. Based on current rules, most individuals cannot receive benefits for more than three months out of every three years unless they work at least 20 hours per week or qualify for an exemption. For about 600,000 low-income households, food benefits could be cut by an average of $100 per month, according to CBPP. — Lorie Konish The Senate's version of Trump's budget bill also included a new savings account for children with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for those born in 2024 through 2028. Starting in 2026, so-called " Trump accounts," a type of tax-advantaged savings account, would be available to all children under the age of 8 who are U.S. citizens, largely in line with the House plan advanced in May. To be eligible to receive the initial seed money, both parents must have Social Security numbers. Parents would then be able to contribute up to $5,000 a year and the balance will be invested in a diversified fund that tracks a U.S. stock index. Earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are taxed as long-term capital gains. Republican lawmakers have said these accounts will introduce more Americans to wealth-building opportunities and the benefits of compound growth. But some experts say a 529 college savings plan is a better alternative because of the higher contribution limits and tax advantages. — Jessica Dickler Lower student loan limits, fewer benefits Key changes may be in store for student loan borrowers. For starters, Republicans would limit how much money people can borrow from the federal government to pay for their education. Among other measures, the Senate plan would: Cap unsubsidized student loans at $20,500 per year and $100,000 lifetime, for graduate students; Cap borrowing for professional degrees, such as those for doctors and lawyers, at $50,000 per year and $200,000 lifetime; Add a lifetime borrowing limit for all federal student loans of $257,500; Cap parent borrowing through the federal Parent PLUS loan program at $20,000 per year per student and $65,000 lifetime; Eliminate grad PLUS loans. These allow grad students to borrow up to their entire cost of attendance minus any federal aid. Going forward, there would be just two repayment plan choices for new borrowers: Student loan borrowers could enroll in either a standard repayment plan with fixed payments or an income-based repayment plan known as the Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP. The bill would also nix the unemployment deferment and economic hardship deferment, both of which student loan borrowers use to pause their payments during periods of financial difficulty. — Jessica Dickler and Annie Nova The Senate bill creates a tax deduction for car loan interest, similar to a provision in the House bill. Certain households would be able to deduct up to $10,000 of annual interest on new auto loans from their taxable income. The tax break would be temporary, lasting from 2025 through 2028. There are some eligibility restrictions. For example, the deduction's value would start to fall for individuals whose annual income exceeds $100,000; the threshold is $200,000 for married couples filing a joint tax return. Cars must also be assembled in the U.S. In practice, the tax benefit is likely to be relatively small, experts said. "The math basically says you're talking about [financial] benefit of $500 or less in year one," based on the average new loan, Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, an auto market research firm, recently told CNBC. — Greg Iacurci The Senate passed the No Tax on Tips Act in late May, a standalone legislation that would create a federal income tax deduction of up to $25,000 per year on tip income, with some limitations. The tax break would apply to workers who typically receive cash tips reported to their employer for payroll tax withholdings, according to the summary of the bill. The Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a similar provision: qualifying individuals would be able to claim a deduction of up to $25,000 for qualified tips. However, the Senate version would not apply to taxpayers whose income exceeds $150,000, or $300,000 for joint filers. Should the bill go into effect as drafted, the Secretary of the Treasury will publish a list of occupations that typically received tips on or before Dec. 31, 2024. The provision would apply to taxable years between Dec. 31, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2028. — Ana Teresa Solá The House and Senate bills would provide a temporary tax break for overtime pay, a campaign promise from Trump. The House-approved bill would create a deduction for "qualified overtime compensation" of $160,000 or less from 2025 to 2028. The deduction is "above the line," meaning the tax break is available regardless of whether you itemize deductions. By contrast, the Senate bill offers a maximum $12,500 above-the-line deduction for overtime pay, and $25,000 for married couples filing jointly, from 2025 to 2028. The tax break begins to phase out once earnings exceed $150,000, and $300,000 for joint filers. — Kate Dore EV, clean energy tax credits The Senate bill, like its House counterpart, would end consumer tax credits tied to clean energy. It would end a $7,500 tax credit for households that buy or lease a new electric vehicle, and a $4,000 tax credit for buyers of used EVs. These tax credits would disappear after Sept. 30, 2025. Additionally, it would scrap tax breaks for consumers who make their homes more energy-efficient, perhaps by installing rooftop solar, electric heat pumps, or efficient windows and doors. These credits would end after Dec. 31, 2025. An aerial view shows solar panels atop the roofs of homes on February 25, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Mario Tama | Getty Images Many tax breaks on the chopping block were created, extended or enhanced by the Inflation Reduction Act, a 2022 law signed by former President Joe Biden that provided a historic U.S. investment to fight climate change. The tax breaks are currently slated to be in effect for another seven or so years, through at least 2032. — Greg Iacurci Section 199A pass-through business deduction Another key provision in the House and Senate bills could offer a bigger deduction for so-called pass-through businesses, which includes contractors, freelancers and gig economy workers. Enacted via Trump's 2017 tax cuts, the Section 199A deduction for qualified business income is currently worth up to 20% of eligible revenue, with some limits. This will expire after 2025 without action from Congress. The House-approved bill would make the provision permanent and expand the maximum tax break to 23% starting in 2026. Meanwhile, the Senate measure would make the deduction permanent but keep it at 20%. — Kate Dore
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Key West City Commissioners vote to end police agreement with ICE. What's next?
Key West city commissioners have voted to void an agreement between the police department and federal government on illegal immigration enforcement — prompting a threat of punishment from the DeSantis administration. In a 6-1 vote Tuesday, the City Commission said the agreement, which allows police officers to stop, question and detain undocumented immigrants, was not enforceable because it was approved by the police chief and not the city manager by way of elected officials. 'I try not to make decisions with my heart because it can get me into trouble,' said Commissioner Donald Lee, the city's former police chief, who voted to sever the so-called 287(g) agreement, named after a section in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. READ MORE: 'Govern yourselves accordingly': Florida goes after city that rejected ICE partnership 'Tonight, I am going to make a decision from my heart, and I hope it doesn't get the city in trouble,' Lee said. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier indicated in a statement released on X Tuesday morning that his office is prepared to take action against the Southernmost City. 'The City of Key West will be hearing from my office very soon,' Uthmeier wrote. In Florida, law enforcement departments that operate county jails must enter partnerships with the federal government so their officers can carry out limited immigration agent functions. State statutes do not explicitly require local and municipal police departments to join these agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as the 287(g) program. But DeSantis and his administration have put pressure on local officials, saying that their departments must join to comply with the state's sanctuary city laws, which prohibit local governments from limiting collaboration with ICE. READ MORE: Bunk beds and 28,000 feet of razor wire. Look inside Florida's Alligator Alcatraz In correspondence, Uthmeier's office has threatened local officials in Orlando and Ft Myers with removal from office if their local governments don't agree to have their police departments join 287(g) agreements. DeSantis Tuesday told reporters at the opening of the new 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention facility in the Everglades that Key West officials could face suspension as a result of not upholding the agreement. READ MORE: It's official: Alligator Alcatraz is not a nickname. It's Florida's name for detention site 'I think the attorney general has weighed in on that, and I'll let him do the analysis and sent them whatever warnings need to be sent. But, the reality is, you have a responsibility for full participation,' DeSantis said. 'And, you can virtue signal and try to make political statements, but the reality is, local governments have to abide by Florida law. Residents and business owners packed City Hall for the meeting to protest the agreement, saying undocumented immigrants who live and work in the city are living in fear already because of ICE agents who have been operating in the Keys since the Trump administration began its mass deportation program earlier this year. Bobi Lore, owner of the Island House Key West Resort on Fleming Street, said 'masked, unnamed, unnumbered and heavily armed' ICE agents are spreading 'terrorism' in the city, and he said local police officers should not be helping them. 'Everybody is afraid. It doesn't matter whether we're talking about immigrants. This is not about immigrants anymore. This is about a deep fear and intimidation practice that is being spread throughout the entire country,' Lore said. 'But for Key West, a place we consider paradise, a place we consider one of the best places on this earth to live, work and be, it's just completely unacceptable.' READ MORE: Do FL cities need to do immigration enforcement? City of South Miami sues to find out Police Chief Sean Brandenburg singed the agreement with ICE in March, he said, because he was told by colleagues in other municipalities that if he didn't, he faced removal of office by the governor. 'It has been made abundantly clear that entering into the 287(g) is the law, and I am trying to follow the law,' Brandenburg told commissioners. Commissioner Samuel Kaufman said he did not know the city had entered into the agreement until last month when a group of business owners told him that their employees have been detained by ICE who have legal status to be in the country, including asylum seekers and those with permanent legal residency, or Green Card holders. They then told him that Key West police entered into the 287(g) agreement. 'No way, I didn't believe it,' Kaufman said, adding later in the meeting, 'Why was I informed by constituents three months after that agreement was put in place? That's just improper.' The meeting held Monday was to terminate the agreement, but Kaufman, who is trial and litigation attorney, changed the resolution, arguing there was nothing to terminate because, in his view, it was not singed by the city manager under the delegation of the city council. 'The agreement is void,' he said. 'So, we don't have to terminate the agreement.' The resolution to end the agreement was approved by Commissioner Monica Haskell, who introduced it, Kaufman, Lee and Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover and Aaron Castillo. Commissioner Lissette Cuervo Carey voted against it. Carey told the Herald having a mother and grandmother who immigrated from Cuba to Key West in the 1950s, she is a supporter of legal immigration, but, 'I believe in upholding and respecting the laws of the State of Florida. As a public servant, I am committed to making decisions that balance compassion, legal integrity, and the best interests of our city.' Carey said she heard from constituents who were concerned about defying the state. 'Having done extensive research on this issue — and after reviewing how similar decisions have affected cities like Fort Myers — I recognized the potential consequences, including the risk of losing critical funding and other repercussions that could significantly impact our city. Based on this understanding, I felt it was important to vote the way I did,' she said. READ MORE: Trump OKs using National Guard as immigration judges at Florida detention center Chris McNulty, executive director of the Queer Keys Community Center, said several of his immigrant friends wanted to speak at the meeting, but were afraid doing so would put them at risk of detention from ICE. And while he said more Key West immigrants speaking out would make a powerful statement, he has been advising them to keep a low profile. 'I love my community, and I love my immigrant friends, and I am pained that they are afraid, and I am actually afraid for my immigrant friends who are not afraid,' McNulty said. Miami Herald immigration reporter Syra Ortiz Blanes contributed to this report.
