Human rights teams problem journey warning for vacationers coming to Florida

A coalition of human rights teams are warning vacationers about intense immigration enforcement in Florida, pointing to incidents the place U.S. residents and other people with legitimate visas had been detained and, in some circumstances, deported.

The teams embody ACLU of Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition, American Friends Service Committee, Family Action Network Movement and Semillas de Colombia.

The warning comes forward of the FIFA World Cup, which has seven matches scheduled in Miami in June and July.

“We’re not here to spread fear or panic, but just so that visitors are making informed decisions,” mentioned Dariel Gomez, statewide organizer for ACLU of Florida.

On the social media platform X, Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the transfer as a stunt pulled by “left-wing groups.”

“They are promoting a leftist agenda and are mad that Florida is beating them on the issues,” DeSantis wrote.

Gomez mentioned the coalition desires FIFA officers to substantiate that immigration enforcement won’t happen in or across the video games.

“But if they don’t, then it’s our responsibility to make sure that we are informing those families of those risks if FIFA doesn’t want to step up,” mentioned Gomez.

In a press launch, the coalition described how a Mexican vacationer on a legitimate vacationer visa was detained during a traffic stop in Orlando and despatched to the Everglades detention facility referred to as Alligator Alcatraz.

Carlos Gonzalez Meza spent 10 days within the detention middle and was transferred to Miami’s Krome Detention Center, then to Brownsville, Texas. Eventually, he returned to his dwelling nation.

In one other case, a U.S. citizen from Georgia, Juan Carlos Lopez, was placed on an ICE hold after Florida Highway Patrol stopped the automobile he was in.

Carlos Lopez’s case drew nationwide consideration. He was finally launched after his mom confirmed the decide his state identification, start certificates and social safety card.

“It extends to beyond just folks that may be undocumented or may overstay a tourist visa,” mentioned Gomez.

In Florida, state and native regulation enforcement companies are required to help federal immigration brokers by means of the 287(g) settlement.

State regulation mandated all sheriff’s workplaces to signal onto the contract. And whereas metropolis police don’t have the identical requirement, many city police departments have signed on.

The degree of cooperation with federal immigration brokers, Gomez mentioned, heightens the chance for individuals in Florida.

“A state that is enabling racial profiling and secret police tactics and masked enforcement cannot promise protections to its visitors,” mentioned Gomez.

Gomez pointed to feedback made by NFL chief safety officer Cathy Lanier, who mentioned federal immigration agents would not be present at the Super Bowl happening in Santa Clara, California Sunday.

However, some are skeptical that’s the case.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter supported calls for fans to stay away from the U.S. for the World Cup due to the Trump administration’s conduct.