Immigration

While the State Immigration Enforcement Council's priority continues to be to remove undocumented immigrants who are violating the law, members have significantly softened their stance for immigrants who do not have criminal records.

More than 20,600 people were arrested by ICE in Florida last year. Their nationalities span more than 120 countries, and their ages range from one to 89 years old.

A Colombian legislator joined local clergy and immigrant advocates on Sunday in demanding Alligator Alcatraz be closed and detainees released to end what they describe as a "national and international" human rights crisis.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier aren’t pleased with a plan to block the use of emergency funds for immigration enforcement efforts, but the House moved forward with the proposal anyway on Monday.

Meanwhile, government attorneys say a reimbursement agreement isn't even finalized.

The Florida Immigrant Coalition hailed Monday night's decision to block the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrant as "a critical victory for families, workers, and communities across the country — especially here in Florida."

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.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia has written a bill introduced in the legislature that would increase penalties for undocumented workers.

"Such a pause would show a decent regard for the humanity of these families," they said. "Now is not the time to be callous toward the suffering caused by immigration enforcement."

Pastors with the Immigrants Are Welcome Here Coalition have been offering their spiritual guidance for immigrants outside the south Orlando ICE removal facility.