News Summary
Florida is approaching a settlement with the federal government concerning immigration policies initiated by the Biden administration. A joint motion was filed requesting a pause on two related cases during the review of Florida’s proposed settlement. The legal battle began in 2021 and escalated amid concerns over the impact of immigration policies on state resources. Recent enforcement actions, including a major immigration raid, have heightened tensions around immigration enforcement in Florida, prompting state officials to seek additional detention facilities and address the complexities of ongoing legal challenges.
Tallahassee, Florida – Florida is in the process of settling a longstanding legal dispute with the federal government regarding immigration policies initiated by the Biden administration. A joint motion was submitted by Florida state and federal attorneys to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting a pause on two related cases while the federal government evaluates Florida’s proposed settlement.
The motion highlights ongoing changes in immigration policies that emerged during the Trump administration and notes that the Department of Homeland Security is currently reexamining these policies. Florida’s settlement proposal is under review by federal officials, although specific details of the proposal have not been disclosed. This request to halt proceedings comes in response to an order from the Atlanta-based appeals court, which, on June 4, mandated briefs to assess the viability of the case.
The legal battle originally commenced in September 2021 under then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who criticized the Biden administration’s approach to immigration issues. In 2023, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell ruled in favor of Florida, stating that certain immigration policies were in violation of federal law. The Biden administration has since appealed this ruling to the appeals court.
Concerns regarding Florida’s legal standing in the immigration policy challenge arose following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling involving similar cases from Texas and Louisiana. Florida officials argue that the Biden administration’s immigration policies have resulted in increased costs for education, healthcare, and prison systems due to a rising number of undocumented immigrants in the state.
A major immigration raid on May 29, 2025, further emphasized the contentious atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement in Florida. This operation resulted in the detention of over 100 construction workers, leaving their families struggling to locate and obtain information about their loved ones. Reports indicate that some detainees were transferred to facilities in Baker County, Miami, and various locations in Texas, returning to Mexico within days.
Families of the detained have expressed concern over the uncertainty and rapid transfer of individuals, complicating efforts to communicate with legal representatives. Immigration lawyers have noted that frequent transfers obstruct their ability to provide necessary legal support to those detained. Workers in Florida’s construction sector, particularly those in Tallahassee, have grown fearful of potential raids, impacting labor dynamics statewide.
Republican leaders in Florida, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have attributed recent federal judicial decisions against Trump-era immigration policies to “lawfare,” suggesting an abuse of the legal system. In response to the influx of detainees, state officials have sought to establish additional detention facilities aimed at managing this population and easing the burden on ICE’s overloaded caseload.
Florida’s immigration enforcement model has faced criticism due to its reliance on frequent detainee transfers, which complicate communication between detainees, their families, and legal representatives. Protests following the immigration raids have indicated community support for those detained and highlighted criticism of stringent immigration enforcement measures. Law enforcement agencies involved in the May 29 raid included ICE, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the FBI, representing a coordinated effort to enforce immigration laws statewide.
During this operation, it was reported that detainees were surrounded and arrested during routine identification checks, leading to widespread disruption across construction sites in Tallahassee. Governor DeSantis championed the immigration enforcement initiative, branding it as a major success in the state’s approach to tackling illegal immigration.
As Florida seeks to navigate the complexities of these legal challenges and ongoing immigration enforcement operations, the implications for labor, community relations, and policy remain significant.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Tallahassee City Commission Faces Controversial Issues in June Meeting
Central Florida Faces Heat and Political Activity
Tallahassee City Commission Holds Key Meeting on Policies
South Florida Condo Market Faces Decline Amid Rising Inventory
Florida Attorney General Held in Contempt Over Immigration Law
Tallahassee Protests ‘No Kings Day’ Against Trump Administration
Political Turmoil in Tallahassee Over Immigration Enforcement
Thousands Rally for ‘No Kings’ Protest Against Trump Policies
Silver Airways Ceases Operations, Impacting Florida Air Travel
Tallahassee City Commission Proposes Comprehensive Plan Amendments
Additional Resources
- Tallahassee.com: After Tallahassee ICE Raid, Families Struggle to Locate Loved Ones
- Florida Phoenix: Corrupt Tallahassee ICE Raid Hits Close to Home
- Politico: Florida’s Alcatraz Immigration Facility
- USA Today: ICE Raid in Tallahassee, Florida
- Tallahassee.com: ICE Raids Tallahassee – Fines Imposed
- Wikipedia: Immigration in the United States
- Google Search: Tallahassee ICE raid
- Google Scholar: Florida immigration policy
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
- Google News: Tallahassee ICE raid
