Cashing in on Mass Detention
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As it continues to signal its contempt for the rule of law, the Trump administration has taken aim at the mechanisms used to investigate the human toll of its deportation agenda, using immigrants as political pawns to bolster Trump’s strongman image. And key allies are profiting.
A new detention center in the Everglades — which supporters have callously referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz ([link removed]) ” — has become a boon for those wishing to cash in on Trump’s draconian and inhumane immigration policies.
* The Florida Republican Party, state Attorney General James Uthmeier’s 2026 campaign, and a PAC affiliated with Gov. Ron DeSantis are all selling merchandise ([link removed]) celebrating the facility.
* Two of the companies hired to build it made campaign contributions ([link removed]) to DeSantis and Trump.
* White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has a significant financial stake in Palantir Technologies ([link removed]) , a data analysis and technology firm that works with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has described the company as “mission critical.”
* Uthmeier and the DeSantis administration have been particularly eager to demonstrate their support for Trump’s anti-immigration efforts through the expansion of local law enforcement power. Last week, he threatened to remove Key West city commissioners from office for voting to void the city’s 287(g) agreement with ICE, which allows local officers to act as immigrant enforcement agents. His bully tactics worked: The commissioners voted to reenter ([link removed]) the partnership this week.
While Trump ([link removed]) ,DeSantis ([link removed]) , Uthmeier ([link removed]) , and the Department of Homeland Security ([link removed]) continue ([link removed]) to use ([link removed]) the Everglades ([link removed]) facility ([link removed]) to appeal to ([link removed]) their base, the risk of abuse is magnified thanks to the dismantling of internal oversight mechanisms ([link removed]) at the department.
* In the spring, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem closed three oversight offices and cut staff from hundreds to a mere dozen, severely hampering internal watchdogs’ ability to investigate issues as the agency ramps up raids, deportations, and detention.
* The administration has also limited the ability of external officials to conduct lawful oversight. Members of Congress were denied entry ([link removed]) to a federal detention facility last month; ICE subsequently released new guidance ([link removed]) requiring members of Congress to provide 72 hours’ notice prior to any facility visit — a brazen attempt to shield abuse from scrutiny.
* Last week, five Florida lawmakers were denied entry ([link removed]) to the Everglades facility as they attempted to conduct a lawful inspection. Earlier that day, Trump and Republican officials had toured the site.
It should come as no surprise that this hampering of oversight is happening alongside gross abuses of power — including blatant defiance of the rule of law.
* This week, records released to Congress provided additional evidence ([link removed]) that Emil Bove — a top DOJ official and Trump’s nominee for a lifetime judicial appointment — suggested defying court orders to help speed up deportations, even instructing DOJ lawyers to tell courts “f— you.”
* In light of these damning allegations, we sued the Department of Justice ([link removed]) on Thursday for records that could shed light on his actions.
This lawsuit ([link removed]) builds upon our previous efforts to hold Bove accountable. In February, we filed ([link removed]) a formal bar complaint against him for his role overseeing and directing the corrupt dismissal of criminal charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams in exchange for Adams’ cooperation on immigration enforcement, reportedly by threatening to fire attorneys.
* Last month, we renewed our request ([link removed]) for an investigation — and urged the Senate to reject Bove’s nomination, which is moving toward a vote by the Judiciary Committee.
* Bove’s alleged misconduct is inconsistent with the ethical obligations of a federal judge. The public needs to see the full record of Bove’s potential misconduct before he is considered for a lifetime appointment.
Other Stories We’re Following
Trump Administration Accountability
* Cuts to DHS watchdogs spark more questions as deportation efforts increase (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Texas flooding, and politics around it, underscore the challenges Trump faces in replacing FEMA (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Gabbard’s team has sought spy agency data to enforce Trump’s agenda (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Comey tracked by Secret Service after post critical of Trump (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* State Department to soon begin mass layoffs (Boston Globe ([link removed]) )
* Social Security pulls field office staff to answer overwhelmed phone line (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Inside the collapse of the FDA (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Withholding agency funds at the end of the year under consideration, White House says (Government Executive ([link removed]) )
* FEMA will no longer go door-to-door to assist disaster victims (Mother Jones ([link removed]) )
* DOGE keeps gaining access to sensitive data. Now, it can cut off billions to farmers (NPR ([link removed]) )
* Trump administration increases scrutiny of another Virginia university (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Bondi made changes to DOJ policy. Her former client Pfizer might have benefited (Miami Herald ([link removed]) )
* The FBI is using polygraphs to test officials' loyalty (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* RFK Jr. cuts access to free programs, Head Start for undocumented immigrants (Axios ([link removed]) )
Elections and Voting Rights
* DOJ demands access to Minnesota's voter rolls (Democracy Docket ([link removed]) )
* Nearly half of election officials concerned about politically motivated investigations (Politico ([link removed]) )
* DOJ presses Pennsylvania for answers on how it manages voter rolls (Votebeat ([link removed]) )
In the States
* Residents still shaken a day after federal authorities march through Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Oklahoma State Education Department announces new partnership with PragerU (KFOR Oklahoma City ([link removed]) )
* Supreme Court keeps hold on Florida immigration law aimed at people in the US illegally (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
National News
* US measles cases reach 33-year record high as outbreaks spread (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Rural hospitals brace for painful choices after Trump's Medicaid and Obamacare cuts (NBC News ([link removed]) )
* Judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order in class-action challenge (New York Times ([link removed]) )
LGBTQ+ Rights
* Many medical treatments could be affected by Supreme Court transgender ruling (Stateline ([link removed]) )
* Louisiana Medicaid quietly stops reimbursing patients for gender-related prescriptions (Louisiana Illuminator ([link removed]) )
* Wisconsin Supreme Court clears the way for a conversion therapy ban to be enacted (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Justice Department demands patient details from trans medicine providers (New York Times ([link removed]) )
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* New tax law makes Planned Parenthood choose: Abortions or basic care (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Planned Parenthood wins a temporary injunction over Medicaid funding (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Doctors, advocates hold out hope for appeals in abortion privacy rule case (News from the States ([link removed]) )
Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Wisconsin bill aims to discourage governments from delaying the release of public records (Wisconsin Public Radio ([link removed]) )
Immigration
* Trump loves ICE. Its workforce has never been so miserable. (Atlantic ([link removed]) )
* Immigration Officials Used Shadowy Pro-Israel Group to Target Student Activists (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* DACA recipient detained at Alligator Alcatraz, attorney says. ‘We don’t know why’ (Miami Herald ([link removed]) )
* U.S. pushes more African countries to accept deported migrants (Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) )
* Cuts to DHS watchdogs spark more questions as deportation efforts increase (CNN ([link removed]) )
* Trump’s $5 million ‘gold card’ visa might never happen (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Supreme Court keeps hold on Florida immigration law aimed at people in the US illegally (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
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