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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE raids ramp up on Florida's Space Coast with construction workers, landscapers detained
The Brief ICE Agents and Brevard County deputies are making arrests in Cocoa. Eyewitnesses say the latest string of arrests happened at an apartment complex and involved a construction crew. A new Congressional bill was introduced on Wednesday to improve transparency with increased immigration arrests. COCOA, Fla. - The Brevard County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that deputies assisted federal immigration authorities in Cocoa this week, sparking concern among residents and drawing new calls for transparency in immigration enforcement. What we know The Brevard County Sheriff's Office confirmed deputies assisted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on Tuesday in Cocoa. Witnesses recorded the interaction with law enforcement that took place at an apartment complex on Clearlake Road. In images shared with FOX 35, multiple deputy and immigration vehicles were parked outside the Oak Meadows leasing office, and at least one vehicle was towed from the scene. Other photos sent to FOX 35 show other landscape workers being detained by immigration authorities and deputies earlier in the month on State Road 520 and Blake Avenue. Legal experts say employers can face consequences for hiring undocumented workers in Florida. People who saw the arrest at the apartment complex say residents and workers are fearful and are seeing authorities in the area more often. A new bill, called the Stop Unlawful Detention and End Mistreatment (SUDEM) Act, was introduced by Congressman Maxwell Frost on Wednesday to try and increase transparency with ICE agents sharing information publicly when arrests are made. The Speaker of the House says more focus should instead be put on supporting ICE agents and making sure they have resources to make arrests. What we don't know It's unclear how many people were detained in either situation in Cocoa. It's also unclear if their families were alerted by ICE about the arrests. We don't know if the people had warrants out for other crimes or only their immigration status. What they're saying People who saw the arrests are worried about families being notified since they're happening at work. Legal experts say it's not just employees who can face consequences if working illegally. Employers can also be held accountable in Florida. "Nobody should be fearful of living day to day in their homes or going to work," said Amaya Ruiz, who is concerned about how the arrests are affecting families in the community. "For employers that have more than 25 employees they have to do mandatory E-Verify to make sure they're not hiring undocumented workers," said civil attorney Carlos Martin with Forest Lake Law. "This bill is a step towards pulling back the curtain on our immigration and detention system," said Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost, who just filed new legislation to improve transparency with ICE arrests. "It's a patriotic duty. They're understaffed. They're overwhelmed with the workload. They're trying to go after the dangerous criminal illegal aliens," said Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who says ICE agents need more resources to continue making arrests. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source FOX 35's Reporter Esther Bower has been monitoring social media for weeks when people have shared photos and videos of ICE and Brevard deputies arresting workers in Cocoa. She spoke with Brevard Sheriff to confirm their deputies were assisting ICE on June 18, 2025. She also interviewed an eyewitness to the latest arrests. On the same day, she watched a press briefing where new legislation was introduced by a Central Florida lawmaker on the immigration issue.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Child drowns in Central Florida pond while on vacation with family, deputies say
The Brief A child drowned on Friday morning in a Central Florida pond. The child was on vacation with their family. Officials say the drowning was accidental in nature and does not appear to be criminal. KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A child drowned on Friday morning in a Central Florida pond while on vacation with his family, Osceola County deputies say. What we know Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) said they responded to reports of a possible drowning on Friday morning in the area around Westgate Boulevard in Kissimmee. The area is next to the Westgate Vacation Villas Resort, which is in close proximity to the Central Florida theme parks and dozens of other resorts. Osceola County Fire Rescue (OCFR) said they took the child to the hospital, but they did not survive. Officials say the drowning was accidental in nature and does not appear to be criminal. The child and their family were visiting the area on vacation, authorities say. What they're saying "Out of respect and consideration for the family during this difficult time, we will not be releasing any additional information regarding this incident," deputies with the OCSO said. What we don't know Officials have not yet released any details on what led to the drowning and have not identified the child. This is a developing story. Check back later for more information. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) and Osceola County Fire Rescue (OCFR) in emails on June 13, 2025.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
21-year-old arrested for deadly Osceola County hit-and-run crash, troopers say
The Brief Jairo Pena Espana, 21, was arrested for a deadly hit-and-run in Osceola County. Authorities found the 2017 Ford F-250 involved. Espana is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving without a license resulting in death. OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash that occurred Wednesday in Osceola County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said they located a 2017 Ford F-250 and took the driver, 21-year-old Jairo Pena Espana of Honduras, into custody. Espana is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and driving without a license resulting in death. An investigation is ongoing. The backstory The deadly crash took place at 6:22 a.m. on Wednesday in a neighborhood on Florida Parkway, south of Birchwood Circle in Kissimmee. Troopers said an unknown vehicle was traveling northbound on Florida Parkway, approaching East Bircwood Circle, while a woman may have been running on Florida Parkway in the northbound lane ahead of the vehicle. Troopers say the vehicle hit the 40-year-old woman and then fled the scene. The woman was taken to the hospital and died. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Highway Patrol.
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Florida sheriff warns protesters planning violence: ‘We will kill you graveyard dead'
A Florida Sheriff delivered a stern warning to anyone planning protests against ICE or President Trump — threatening to respond to violence with deadly force. 'If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains because we will kill you, graveyard dead. We're not going to play.' Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said Thursday. 'If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies … we will kill you, graveyard dead,' Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey warned protesters. FOX 35 Advertisement 'If you try to mob rule a car in Brevard County, gathering around it, refusing to let the driver leave in our county, you're most likely going to get run over and dragged across the street,' the Republican sheriff said during the immigration news conference. 'If you spit on us, you're going to the hospital, then jail. If you hit one of us, you're going to the hospital, jail, and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs we have here,' Ivey warned. The sheriff's deadly declaration comes as a slew of anti-Trump and anti-ICE protests are expected to continue across the nation this weekend. Advertisement Over 2,000 'No Kings' protests in multiple cities are slated for Saturday, the day of the President's military birthday parade. The sheriff's deadly declaration comes as a slew of anti-Trump and anti-ICE protests are expected to continue across the nation this weekend. Mishalynn Brown/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'No Kings' protests have previously denounced Trump and Elon Musk, the former leader of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. The themed protests, led by the national anti-authoritarianist 50501 Movement, have called for Trump to be 'dethroned' and have compared his actions to those of a King. Advertisement President Trump has deployed 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 US Marines to Los Angeles after violent protests erupted over the weekend over his deportation crackdown. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, following a similar cue, ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops on Thursday, along with more than 2,000 state police, in response to the ongoing demonstrations this weekend. With Post wires
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Florida attorney general, FHP, Brevard County sheriff to hold ICE news conference Thursday morning
The Brief A press conference will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office in Titusville, Florida. Speakers include Attorney General James Uthmeier, Sheriff Wayne Ivey, and other state and federal officials. Further details about what the news conference will be about were not released. TITUSVILLE, Fla. - Attorney General James Uthmeier will join Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and other top law enforcement and immigration officials for a press conference on Thursday morning. The briefing will take place at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office in Titusville, Uthmeier will also be joined by Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze, State Board of Immigration Enforcement Executive Director Larry Keefe and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement State Liaison Officer Anthony Coker Further details about what the news conference will be about were not released. FOX 35 News will stream the conference at the top of this page. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
