Florida offering migrants money to self-deport or they could get sent to ‘Alligator Alcatraz'
The program, first reported on by the Washington Examiner, highlights how Florida has deeply integrated its law enforcement apparatus with federal immigration priorities under Governor Ron DeSantis, a Trump ally.
Under the initiative, which has been operational for several weeks, state law enforcement, including the state Highway Patrol, take those accused of being in the country illegally to federal Border Patrol stations. There, they are offered state funds for a self-deportation flight.
'We give them that one last chance — and you can quote me on this — to do the right thing, and that is self-deport,' Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, told the outlet. 'And if they do that, then we, the state of Florida, will help them get from Florida back to their home country by purchasing that low-cost, one-way flight.'
Officials said the program was a cost-effective way to process immigration cases and allow immigrants to avoid remaining in detention for what could be months amid backlogs to see an immigration judge.
The federal government operates a similar program, using the CBP Home app and $1000 paid incentives to encourage people to self-deport.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, called the program 'inherently coercive,' noting that those who refuse could end up in the state's ' Alligator Alcatraz ' immigration detention facility, where migrants have complained of inhumane conditions and civil rights groups say detainees are denied access to legal counsel.
'This program raises MAJOR due process concerns,' Reichlin-Melnick wrote on X. 'People are being forced to make a decision to leave behind their families, jobs, houses, and lives in the United States in a matter of hours — at the threat of being detained in conditions all know are bad.'
Governor DeSantis has encouraged state and local police agencies, ranging from the Highway Patrol to state university police departments, to join the federal 287(g) program, which deputizes state and local police departments to carry out immigration enforcement.
Florida residents say the incorporation of local police into federal immigration has caused Latino communities to fear driving on the roads, and to cease displaying flags or playing Spanish-language music while driving.
Critics like the ACLU claim that such state-federal immigration collaborations are a 'license to abuse' and encourage law enforcement to profile people they suspect to be unlawful immigrants because of their skin color or language.
A report from the group analyzed the more than 140 local law enforcement agencies in the program as of 2022 and found that at least 59 percent of the sheriffs in the program have a record of 'anti-immigrant, xenophobic rhetoric' and 65 percent have shown a 'pattern of racial profiling and other civil rights violations, including excessive use of force.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Photos reveal Chile's pursuit of Venezuelan crime syndicate branded a terror threat by Trump
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
The Guardian
22 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Top medical body concerned over RFK Jr's reported plans to cut preventive health panel
A top US medical body has expressed 'deep concern' to Robert F Kennedy Jr over news reports that the health secretary plans to overhaul a panel that determines which preventive health measures including cancer screenings should be covered by insurance companies. The letter from the the American Medical Association comes after the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Kennedy plans to overhaul the 40-year old US Preventive Services Task Force because he regards them as too 'woke', according to sources familiar with the matter. During his second term, Donald Trump has frequently raged against organizations and government departments that he considers too liberal – often without any evidence. The US president, and his cabinet members such as Kennedy, have also overseen huge cuts and job losses across the US government. The taskforce is made up of a 16-member panel appointed by health and human services secretaries to serve four-year terms. In addition to cancer screenings, the taskforce issues recommendations for a variety of other screenings including osteoporosis, intimate partner violence, HIV prevention, as well as depression in children. Writing in its letter to Kennedy on Sunday, the AMA defended the panel, saying: 'As you know, USPSTF plays a critical, non-partisan role in guiding physicians' efforts to prevent disease and improve the health of patients by helping to ensure access to evidence-based clinical preventive services.' 'As such, we urge you to retain the previously appointed members of the USPSTF and commit to the long-standing process of regular meetings to ensure their important work can be continued without disruption,' it added. Citing Kennedy's own slogan of 'Making America healthy again,' the AMA went on to say: 'USPSTF members have been selected through an open, public nomination process and are nationally recognized experts in primary care, prevention and evidence-based medicine. They serve on a volunteer basis, dedicating their time to help reduce disease and improve the health of all Americans – a mission well-aligned with the Make America Healthy Again initiative.' According to the Affordable Care Act, public and private insurance companies must cover any services recommended by the Preventive Services Task Force without cost sharing. In a statement to MedPage Today, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon did not confirm the reports, instead saying: 'No final decision has been made on how the USPSTF can better support HHS' mandate to Make America Healthy Again.' Reports of Kennedy's alleged decision to overhaul the taskforce come after the American Conservative published an essay earlier this month that described the taskforce as advocating for 'leftwing ideological orthodoxy'. It went on to accuse the panel of being 'packed with Biden administration appointees devoted to the ideological capture of medicine', warning that the 'continued occupation of an important advisory body in HHS – one that has the capacity to force private health insurers to cover services and procedures – by leftwing activists would be a grave oversight by the Trump administration'. In response to the essay, 104 health organizations, including the American Medical Association, issued a separate letter to multiple congressional health committees in which they urged the committees to 'protect the integrity' of the taskforce. 'The loss of trustworthiness in the rigorous and nonpartisan work of the Task Force would devastate patients, hospital systems, and payers as misinformation creates barriers to accessing lifesaving and cost effective care,' the organizations said. In June, Kennedy removed all 17 members of a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel of vaccine experts. Writing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, he accused the committee of having too many conflicts of interest. Kennedy's decision to overhaul the immunization panel was met with widespread criticism from health experts, with the American Public Health Association executive director Georges Benjamin calling the ouster 'a coup'. 'It's not how democracies work. It's not good for the health of the nation,' Benjamin said.
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I was deeply shocked by my tenant's bizarre act after she moved out - yet she's calling ME dramatic
A landlord was gobsmacked after discovering his tenant had taken his big-ticket items when she moved out - despite them being part of the furnished rental. Renter Katie was living in the apartment, which included essential appliances such as a fridge, washing machine and dishwasher. But when she moved out, she took the bulky gadgets, worth more than $2,000, with her, mistakenly believing they were hers to keep - leaving the landlord baffled, as they were his property. 'Hi, just wanted to say I've left the keys on the counter. Thanks for everything,' Katie said in her goodbye text message to the landlord. Baffled, he replied: 'Hi Katie. Just been to the property. Where is the fridge?' Appearing unfazed, she casually replied: 'Oh, I took it. Same with the washer and the dishwasher.' Taken aback by her response, the landlord said: 'Sorry? Those weren't yours to take. They were part of the tenancy.' Katie tried to justify taking the appliances, saying: 'Yeah but I used them every day. I assumed they were mine?' A landlord was gobsmacked after discovering his tenant had taken his big-ticket items when she moved out - despite them being part of the furnished rental As the products came with the rental property, he explained: 'They're listed on the inventory. You signed it. Can you return them please?' 'That's a bit awkward now. They're already in my new place,' Katie replied. He demanded she bring the gadgets back because 'they don't belong to you'. 'I genuinely thought they did. Like, I used them. They felt like mine,' Katie insisted. Furious with her response, he replied: 'Katie. You've taken items worth over a grand. This isn't a grey area.' Trying to find a way out of the situation, she suggested: 'Can't you just claim it on insurance or something? I'm not trying to cause drama.' However, the landlord gave her an ultimatum as he accused her of stealing. 'If I don't have them back by Friday, I'll have to treat it as theft. This is serious,' he said. Katie ended the conversation with: 'Wow. Over a few appliances? Bit extreme, don't you think?' It's unclear what happened between Katie and the landlord - but British property strategist Jack Rooke re-shared the pair's text exchange. 'She took over £1,000 ($A2040) worth of appliances… Then told the landlord he was being dramatic. And people still say landlords are the bad guys,' Jack said. 'That's a bit extreme. She's just robbed him.' His video has been viewed more than 770,000 times, with many divided over the situation. 'She's been paying the guy's mortgage for years, the least he can do is let her have a few white goods,' one suggested. 'To be fair, she's used them. Every day the new tenants won't want secondhand appliances - she's saved the landlord a job by removing them,' another shared. 'Dammit Katie you're making me agree with a landlord here,' one said. 'I never rent anything out furnished, literally they steal something every time. Over 10 years there was nothing left - no sofa, fridge, dryer, bed, table and chairs. Every single item stolen,' a tenant revealed. 'My last tenant left with my fridge. Exactly the same conversation,' one added.
