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Protestors rally against Trump outside Orange County jail over immigration policies

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www.clickorlando.com – Mike Valente – 2025-05-01 22:29:00

SUMMARY: Dozens of demonstrators gathered at the Orange County Jail on May Day to protest immigration policies under President Trump, criticizing the county’s cooperation with ICE. Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, executive director of Hope CommUnity Center, called for the end of agreements that make the jail a “hub” for ICE, arguing that the county is underpaid for housing detainees. He emphasized the human cost of the detentions, citing 1,018 bookings in early 2025, compared to 1,016 for all of 2024. Protesters also opposed the county’s new 287(g) agreement, which empowers local corrections officers to enforce federal immigration warrants.

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News from the South - Florida News Feed

Final tally for Florida ICE operation nets record 1,120 | National

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-01 14:24:00

(The Center Square) – A week-long operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state and local law enforcement agencies in Florida has arrested 1,120 people suspected of illegally entering the country, the most in the agency’s history in one state. 

Operation Tidal Wave lasted from April 21 through Saturday. There were 378 with final orders of removal. The rest will be in ICE custody before they go before an immigration judge or pending travel arrangements for deportation.

Some of the arrests included members of several violent gangs such as MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Brown Pride Aztecas, Barrio Azteca, Surenos (sur-13) and 18th Street Gang. 

Of the arrests, 437 came from Guatemala, 280 from Mexico, 153 from Honduras, 48 from Venezuela, 24 from El Salvador and from 178 other nations.

“Last week’s operational success of arresting more than 1,100 criminal illegal aliens was truly a collaborative whole-of-government effort by our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Florida,” ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan said in a release. “Every day, our officers take to the streets and put their lives on the line to apprehend and remove dangerous criminal aliens, transnational gang members and foreign fugitives who have illegally entered the U.S. We are united in our determination to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system and enhance public safety for all Americans.”

On Feb. 13, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed several immigration enforcement bills, including one that codified 287(g) partnerships between state, local and federal agencies specifically for immigration enforcement.

These partnerships allow ICE to delegate specified immigration officer functions to state and local law enforcement officials under the agency’s direction and supervision.

“I’ve insisted that Florida be the tip of the spear when it comes to state support of federal immigration enforcement,” said DeSantis in a news release. “The success of Operation Tidal Wave is proof of our commitment. Florida is proud to work closely with the Trump administration and help deliver on the 2024 mandate from America that our borders be secured and our immigration laws be followed. We will continue to engage in broad interior enforcement efforts.”

According to state and federal officials, field offices identified priority targets for arrest with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Among the federal law enforcement agencies working in Operation Tidal Wave were ICE Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the U.S. Marshals Service.

“Dangerous criminals have no place in our country,” said Miami Sector Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Dinise in a news release. “We will apply CBP’s collective intelligence and operational capabilities to target those here illegally who endanger our citizens and the American way of life. Collaborative enforcement efforts such as Operation Tidal Wave, with our DHS and state of Florida law enforcement partners, leverages each of our unique authorities to protect against threats.

“We look forward to continuing the vital partnership with the state of Florida as we all work toward our shared goal of keeping our communities safe and our nation secure.”

In addition to state law enforcement agents from Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission, the sheriff’s offices in Alachua, Baker, Brandford, Brevard, Clay, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Orange, Pinellas, St, John’s, Sumter and Volusia counties also provided assistance during the operation. 

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Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Right-Leaning

This article appears to present a right-leaning perspective, particularly in its framing of the immigration enforcement operation. The tone is supportive of strong immigration control and law enforcement collaboration. The use of phrases such as “dangerous criminals,” “restore integrity,” and “public safety for all Americans” aligns with rhetoric often seen in right-wing discussions about immigration and security. Additionally, the inclusion of Governor Ron DeSantis’s comments about Florida being “the tip of the spear” in supporting federal immigration efforts and the reference to the “2024 mandate from America” further reinforce a conservative stance on immigration enforcement. The portrayal of the operation as a success and the inclusion of law enforcement officials’ quotes emphasizing the importance of security also suggest a favorable view of aggressive immigration policies. While the article largely focuses on reporting the details of the operation, the language and framing contribute to a narrative supporting the current administration’s immigration stance.

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News from the South - Florida News Feed

Longtime Cubs fan revels in Pete Crow-Armstrong using his group’s song for walkup music

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www.clickorlando.com – Jay Cohen, Associated Press – 2025-05-01 10:42:00

SUMMARY: John Hauldren, a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and member of the electronic music group Levity, was thrilled when Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong used Levity’s song “Front to Back” as his walkup music in a game. Crow-Armstrong, a Southern California native, discovered Levity through a personal connection involving mutual friends and his girlfriend’s cousin. Hauldren, who grew up a Cubs fan despite a White Sox family background, created much of the song in Chicago near Wrigley Field, making the moment especially meaningful. The two have since connected and hope to meet, marking a memorable experience for Hauldren and his band.

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Florida Legislature passes condominium reform legislation | Florida

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Steve Wilson | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-01 08:15:00

(The Center Square) – The Florida Legislature passed compromise legislation this week intended to help condominium owners deal with massive repair assessments.

A compromise was reached by the chambers between Senate Bill 1742 and House Bill 913 and the conference report passed unanimously in both chambers on Wednesday. It is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk for a possible signature.

During floor debate, SB1742’s sponsor, Fleming Island Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley, said the measure came from a “lot of listening to condo owners talk about how they know their building needs to be safe, but pleading that the process be fair and workable, worried that developers would take advantage of the situation, worried that things not be implemented so quickly that they can’t financially catch up.”

“To all of those owners, we heard you, and this bill is the relief you’re asking for,” Bradley said.

Rep. Vickie Lopez, R-Miami, sponsored the House legislation.

The 191-page bill addresses a lot of issues, including a prohibition of conflict of interests with community association managers and structural inspectors, along with requirements on milestone safety inspections for buildings with three habitable stories or greater (the previous law was three stories). 

Communities would also be required under the legislation to have adequate property insurance for full insurable value as determined by an independent insurance appraisal or an update of a previous appraisal.

Condo associations would be required to propose a substitute budget that excludes any discretionary spending if the proposed budget exceeds 115% of the assessments of the previous year. This new budget would have to be presented to property owners before it could be adopted.

The measure would also remove “assessments for the betterment of the community” as part of that 115% cap and limit those added expenses to repairs required by structural integrity reserve studies. 

Many condo owners are dealing with crippling assessments that DeSantis said can be as much as $100,000 per unit. These are required by laws passed in a May 2022 special session in the wake of the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium building in Surfside that killed 98 people. 

Lawmakers balked at tackling condo issues at a special session called by DeSantis to tackle immigration enforcement earlier this year. 

“This legislation is the product of many months of work, led by Senator Bradley and Senator Pizzo, to address concerns and incorporate feedback from condo owners, associations, local governments, state regulators, our dedicated partners in the Florida House and many other stakeholders,” said Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, in a news release, referring to Sen. Jason Pizzo. “Condominium living is, particularly in our coastal areas, an iconic and highly sought-after way of life, including for many seniors retiring to our state.

“Everyone shares the goal of ensuring our condos are safe for residents who have made significant investments in these properties.”

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Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

**Political Bias Rating: Centrist**

The article appears to provide a neutral, factual report on the passage of legislation aimed at addressing issues faced by condominium owners in Florida. It discusses the details of the bill, including the process and contributions from both Republican senators and representatives. The language used to describe the bill’s provisions is straightforward, and the article does not provide an ideological perspective or use language that favors any particular political viewpoint. While the content mentions key figures, including Republican lawmakers and Governor Ron DeSantis, it remains focused on the legislative process and the bill’s potential impact on condominium owners, with no discernible bias or partisan framing.

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