deportation

Prolonged detention has become more common in President Donald Trump’s second term, at least partly because a new policy generally prohibits immigration judges from releasing detainees while their deportation cases wind through backlogged courts. The number of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention has topped 70,000 for the first time.

Detainees have been pepper-sprayed on at least two occasions at a Florida immigration detention center, dubbed “Deportation Depot,” since opening this past September.

The Venezuelan immigrant was arrested Jan. 7 by an Orange County sheriff's deputy for being "undocumented," according to the court order, and was held without charges, a warrant or a hearing.

Saying scores of her Haitian constituents are being threatened with deportation, Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson has written President Donald Trump and other top administration officials urging them to extend Temporary Protected Status to hundreds of thousands of Haitian nationals.

Officials announced that an operation carried out by local, state and federal partners resulted in more than 350 arrests in central Florida over the span of four days. Over the poast five months, more than 6,000 people suspected of being in the country illegally have been arrested.

According to the governor’s office, the Baker County facility opened Sept. 2 and had more than 100 detainees as of Friday. It can house up to 1,500 people.

A former detainee describes conditions at the Everglades facility and the circumstances of his apprehension by a border patrol agent.

The federal government and Florida are cracking down on undocumented truck drivers. The move comes as the trucking industry has been experiencing worker shortages.

Shutting down the facility for the time being would cost the state $15 million to $20 million immediately, and it would cost another $15 million to $20 million to reinstall structures if Florida is allowed to reopen it, according to court filings by the state.

It's seeking a stay of a preliminary injunction issued last week in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and joined by the Miccosukee Tribe.

Panelists criticized what they say are extreme tactics under President Donald Trump and his administration.

A line of deportation-themed shirts, hats and other knickknacks for sale on the state Republican Party website bore a logo similar to the natoinal hardware chain.