A DACA recipient who has lived in Central Florida for nearly 25 years has been detained in the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in the Everglades after being picked up for driving with a suspended license.

The 36-year-old man who is legally in the United States was transferred from the Orange County Jail early Saturday, his attorney told the Orlando Sentinel.

The man is a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a 2012 program that shields undocumented people who arrived here as children from deportation.

Josephine Arroyo, his Orlando-based attorney, declined to name her client fearing retaliation against him at the Everglades facility. She’s only spoken to him once since his arrival there early Saturday, and Arroyo said the man described swarming mosquitoes, non-working toilets and “horrific food.”

“It’s not a detention facility that is going to be up to par with the requirements necessarily, so yeah, it’s horrible,” she said. “Never in a million years did I think our client would be there, especially given his legal status and his charge of driving with a suspended license.”

The man’s circumstances deepen the emerging questions about the use of the new detention center in the Everglades, which President Donald Trump said would hold “the worst of the worst” when he visited upon its opening last week.

Reporting by many media outlets suggests multiple detainees sent to that facility have committed only minor crimes in the U.S., and Arroyo contends her client should not be in detention at all.

Arroyo said her client was issued a citation in Florida’s Seminole County last year for driving with a suspended license and the court mailed him a notice to appear to an address where he no longer lived.

Because he missed the court hearing, a warrant was issued, she said.

Earlier this year, he was pulled over for having a broken mirror in Orange County, where she said the law enforcement officer saw the warrant for his arrest in the court system and took him into custody.

Arroyo said she has since provided the court with the man’s valid driver’s license, and the charge was lessened to a civil citation. She has petitioned Immigration and Customs Enforcement to issue the man a bond so he can be released, but wasn’t sure if that would be granted or how long the process would take.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement did tell her Alligator Alcatraz wasn’t yet able to support attorney visits, which she found concerning.

She spoke to her client by phone after he called his brother, who included her on the call.

“Those that are inside are literally voiceless, and it’s important that they have access to their attorneys who can be that voice,” Arroyo said. “Immigrants have constitutional rights and rights to due process solely by being here on American soil, and a lot of people forget about that.”

Florida’s Division of Emergency Management and ICE’s press office didn’t respond to a request for comment prior to publication.

First announced on June 19, the immigration detention facility was swiftly set up by the DeSantis administration at an airport used for training flights deep in the Everglades. It is expected to eventually have capacity for about 3,000 detainees.

The Miami Herald reported earlier this week on similar reports of dire conditions at the detention facility, citing conversations with the wives of men detained there. A spokesperson for the Division of Emergency Management denied the Herald’s reporting, stating “Bug and environmental factors are minimized in the facility,” and that “all plumbing systems are working and operational.”

The Orange County Jail confirmed this week that some number of people detained at the jail – which has an agreement with ICE to house federal inmates, including those on immigration detainers – were subsequently transferred to Alligator Alcatraz.

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An Orlando woman who did not want to be identified because of fears of retaliation said one of her family members has been transferred to the Everglades detention center from a county jail.

She said he was detained during a routine immigration field office check-in after the Trump administration revoked his temporary legal status.

The woman said he was able to call her from the detention center and told her he doesn’t know when he’ll get a hearing before an immigration judge or how long he could be at the facility.

The man told her it was difficult to tell if it was day or night inside the facility, which is made up of large tents, and mosquitoes and sweltering heat made it difficult to be outdoors.

“There is no rhyme or reason for who they pick up or why they pick them up,” she said. “I am devastated. What makes it worse is the comments people make. They forget these are human beings and people’s loved ones.”

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, one of several Democratic lawmakers prevented from entering Alligator Alcatraz last week, said she had concerns about a tour scheduled by the state this upcoming weekend.

“We’re glad to see public pressure forcing the state of Florida to open its doors,” she said. “But let’s be clear: this isn’t a field trip — it’s oversight. The law grants us the right to enter these facilities unannounced, at any time. … Floridians deserve genuine transparency, not curated photo opportunities, and we will continue to push for that type of unfettered access.”

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com, sswisher@orlandosentinel.com

NEW YORK (AP) — Ford is recalling more than 850,000 of its cars across the U.S. because the low-pressure fuel pump inside the vehicles may fail — and potentially cause an engine stall while driving, increasing crash risks.

The recall covers a wide range of Ford and Lincoln-branded vehicles made in recent model years. That includes certain Ford Broncos, Explorers and F-150s, as well as Lincoln Aviators and Navigators, documents published this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note.

Ford plans to send out notification letters to affected owners starting this Monday (July 14), to warn of safety risks related to potential fuel pump failure. But a remedy is still “under development,” the NHTSA’s recall report notes.

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It wasn’t immediately clear if there was an estimate for when a fix would become available. But this week’s recall report noted that owners will receive an additional letter with instructions to take their car to an authorized dealer for that service when the time comes — and that there will be no charge.

The Associated Press reached out to Ford for further comments Thursday.

The Michigan-based automaker isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries related to this recall, this week’s report notes. But owners should look out for potential warnings. Prior to fuel pump failure, customers may encounter poor engine performance, for example, a check engine light or a decrease in engine power.

Fuel pump failure is “more likely to occur” during warm weather or if there’s low fuel in the tank, the recall report notes. And loss of fuel pressure and flow can be caused by internal contamination of a car’s jet pump, amid other factors. Ford also identified supplier changes during a review of the manufacturing process, the report adds.

Ford estimates that 10% of the 850,318 vehicles it’s recalling in the U.S. have this fuel pump risk. The recall covers certain Ford Broncos, Explorers and Lincoln Aviators between the 2021 and 2023 model years, in addition to 2021-2023 model year F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD and F-550 SD vehicles. Select 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigators, Ford Mustangs and F-150s are also impacted, as well as some 2022 Expeditions.

An argument and fight led to the stabbing death of a 21-year-old man on an Apple Valley sidewalk early Sunday, according to murder charges against the alleged killer, who police say remains on the run.

Aron Isait Medina Rojas, 20, of Minneapolis, was charged Tuesday by a sealed warrant complaint with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the killing of Daniel Isaac Aguilar near the intersection of Pennock Avenue and 138th Street.

Daniel Isaac Aguilar (Courtesy of GoFundMe)

An autopsy by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office showed Aguilar died of multiple stab wounds, including one to the left side of his chest. The coroner’s office listed his residence as Burnsville, while the Dakota County Attorney’s Office said Thursday he lived in Apple Valley.

“As our family begins to process this unimaginable loss and make arrangements, we want to thank everyone who has reached out with love, prayers, and support,” Aguilar’s aunt, Andrea Rodriguez, wrote on a GoFundMe page (gofund.me/547385b0) set up for funeral expenses. “Your kindness means more than words can express.”

On Tuesday, Apple Valley police named Medina Rojas as a suspect in the killing and asked for help in locating him. He drives a 2018 gray Chrysler 300 with the Minnesota license plate number JPU 845 and might be trying to escape authorities by fleeing to Mexico, police said.

According to the Dakota County District Court criminal complaint, which was unsealed Thursday:

About 3:12 p.m., police were called to the residential neighborhood on the report of an unresponsive man lying on the sidewalk. They found Aguilar covered in blood and unresponsive. His body was still warm to the touch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Surveillance video from the surrounding area showed Aguilar walking on the sidewalk at 2:38 a.m. near where his body was later found. He walked out of camera range.

A minute later, vehicle headlights came into view and then the voices of two males and possibly a female could be heard out of camera range. The voices were “elevated, as if they were arguing,” the complaint states.

Medina Rojas is seen on video walking toward Aguilar, who backed away. He struck Aguilar in his left chest, to which Aguilar said, “I’m (expletive) walking home bro. Let me be,” the complaint states. Medina Rojas then punched Aguilar in the throat and Aguilar collapsed onto the sidewalk. Medina Rojas walked away.

Aron Isait Medina Rojas (Courtesy of the Apple Valley Police Department)

Investigators met with Aguilar’s family and were told that he had been with his girlfriend the night before in Minneapolis.

His girlfriend told investigators that she and Aguilar got into an argument while at a club in Minneapolis. They left the club and drove to an Apple Valley bus station parking lot and continued arguing.

She said her friend called and said she was going to pick her up.

Video surveillance showed Aguilar walking away right as the friend and her boyfriend, Medina Rojas, pulled into the parking lot.

Aguilar’s girlfriend told investigators she was upset and crying because of the argument. She said her friend and Medina Rojas insisted on driving her to a friend’s house so that she wouldn’t pick up Aguilar.

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She said they saw Aguilar walking and that Medina Rojas asked her if he had a “strap on,” which she understood to be a gun. Her friend and Medina Rojas dropped her off and left.

The friend contacted police later Sunday and gave a statement. She confirmed what Aguilar’s girlfriend told investigators, adding they soon saw Aguilar walking after dropping her off.

She said Medina Rojas stopped the car, and that she got out and confronted Aguilar. She said he became aggressive with her, prompting Medina Rojas to exit the car. A fight between the two men ensued. She claimed she saw Aguilar extend his arm before sitting down on the sidewalk. Medina Rojas returned to the car with blood on his shirt and told her they had to leave.

Apple Valley police urge anyone who sees Medina Rojas to call 911. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police at 952-322-2323.

City Hall has so far refused to carry out the package of bills passed by the Council in 2023, which would expand CityFHEPS eligibility to any income eligible household at risk of eviction, among other changes.

Housing advocates at a rally outside City Hall in 2023, to call for expanding CityFHEPS. (Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit)

Mayor Eric Adams’ administration must implement a package of laws passed by the City Council to expand eligibility for the city’s rental subsidy program, an appeals court ruled Thursday—overturning an earlier ruling that sided with City Hall in its refusal to carry out the changes.

A panel of judges in the Supreme Court of the State of New York’s Appellate Division issued the latest ruling, siding with lawmakers and the Legal Aid Society, which had sued the Adams administration on behalf of New Yorkers who it says would be eligible for rental subsidies under the Council’s expansion but have been unable to access the aid due to City Hall’s stonewalling.

“Today’s unanimous appellate decision is a critical moment for thousands of New Yorkers struggling with housing insecurity,” said Robert Desir, staff attorney in the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society, in a statement Thursday. “At a time when affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges in New York City, this decision marks a significant step toward a housing system that is accessible and fair for all.”

Mayor Adams had initially vetoed the package of bills when the Council first passed them in 2023, saying expanding eligibility for the City Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement program, or CityFHEPS, would be too costly and would increase competition for existing voucher holders trying to find apartments. The Council then overrode his veto.

But City Hall still refused to carry out the laws, one of which would increase the income eligibility threshold for CityFHEPS—from 200 percent of the poverty line to 50 percent of area median income, equal to $81,000 a year for a four-person household. Another piece of the legislation would extend eligibility to any income eligible household “at risk of eviction,” demonstrated with a rent demand letter, even if the tenant does not yet to have an eviction case in court.

A spokesperson for the mayor’s office said that the administration is currently reviewing its legal options.

“The Adams administration has utilized CityFHEPS more than any prior administration—helping an unprecedented number of New Yorkers obtain permanent housing last year,” First Deputy Press Secretary Liz Garcia said in a statement.

“But 13,000 households are still trying to use their CityFHEPS vouchers to find permanent housing, and we must focus on them. Adding more vouchers will only make it harder for people to leave homeless shelters,” Gracia added. “The affordable-housing crisis won’t be solved by making people compete for nonexistent housing; it will be solved by building more housing— which the Adams administration has done at record levels—and actually connecting people who already have vouchers to homes.”

The administration had argued in court that New York State’s Social Services Law precludes city lawmakers from legislating on public assistance reforms. But the appeals court disagreed in its ruling Thursday.

“We conclude that the City Council was not preempted from legislating in the field of rental assistance,” Justice John R. Higgitt wrote. “In fact, the City Council has many times exercised its legislative power in the social services realm.”

The court ordered Adams administration to present the package of expansion laws to the State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) for approval, what the Legal Aid Society called “the first step in making the expanded subsidies a reality for vulnerable New Yorkers.”

This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.

The post Mayor Must Implement Council Laws Expanding Rental Vouchers, Appeals Court Rules appeared first on City Limits.