Florida Plans Mass Deportation Blueprint for Nationwide Adoption

Florida has developed a 37-page immigration enforcement plan, dubbed the "Florida blueprint," which outlines a comprehensive state-level approach to immigration detention and mass deportation, including rapid construction of detention facilities, use of Florida National Guard Judge Advocate General's Corps officers as immigration judges, and deportation flights organized with state contractors. Governor Ron DeSantis and state officials have positioned Florida as a national model, with plans to share this blueprint for adoption by other states, emphasizing enhanced enforcement powers for Florida Highway Patrol troopers, including over 100 sworn in as special deputy U.S. Marshals authorized to execute federal warrants independently. The plan encourages bypassing federal detention standards by housing detainees in county jails and suspending certain federal protections, a move that immigration attorneys argue is unconstitutional and risks eroding civil liberties. Critics also warn that the plan may lead to false imprisonment and impose significant financial burdens on Florida taxpayers without guaranteed federal reimbursement. State officials assert that local law enforcement is fully cooperating due to legislation mandating maximum participation with federal immigration authorities, aiming to eliminate sanctuary policies and ensure aggressive immigration enforcement. This state-federal tension highlights a significant shift in immigration policy toward state-driven enforcement efforts with potentially far-reaching consequences for immigration law and civil rights protections in the U.S.