Latinos in Gadsden County have expressed concerns about racial profiling and targeting immigrant communities. Florida is increasing efforts to find and detain undocumented immigrants under Desantis control. It helps undocumented individuals avoid potential encounters with law enforcement.
Micaela Huapilla was driving in Quincy when she saw the car being pulled at a traffic stop.
At first glance, she had no thought of it, but when she left she felt she needed to turn around. When she returned she saw what she described as a man already in handcuffs and a “desperate” woman who looked like his wife.
She parked and didn’t get out of the car. A law enforcement officer stood up and asked if she spoke English. He then asked if she was a US citizen.
Huapilla, a Latina woman, replied that she was a permanent resident. Officer – she doesn’t know which agency – asked him to help translate him for his crying wife.
“She said, ‘Please, help me,’ but I couldn’t do any more. The only thing I told her was, “Don’t worry, just stay calm and wait for what they say,” Hopira said. A tow truck for carrying a couple’s car.
“To see the person alone, I encouraged her to approach, despite being a little scared,” she told USA Today Network -Florida. “I did it because I was human.”
This week, Florida stepped up efforts to track illegally entering immigrants, part of President Donald Trump’s massive deportation agenda.
After three special sessions that brought executive orders by the governor, strict immigration laws and other new agreements between state law enforcement and the U.S. Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), the state has been “the most stringent” of immigration. I positioned it as follows. country.
In a post on Thursday in X, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles promoted traffic stop operations in Gadsden County, a rural community next to the state’s capital counties. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. In Gadsden County, Hispanic and Latino communities grew between 1990 and 2022, up 9.3%.
According to the Post, 58 traffic stops led to eight arrests and six undocumented immigrants were identified. “Together, we are accountable to those who enter the country illegally,” Post says.
In such an operation, Latinos of Gadsden County are worried they are being introduced.
“It’s difficult. It’s cruel to see the situation happening at these moments,” Huapila said. “Quincy is a working class town with a lot of workers. It’s sad that this is happening and people are ignoring what’s going on.”
But Republican leaders like R-Melbourne Beach Sen. Randy Fine aren’t worried.
“I have great confidence to make sure that our state law enforcement is doing it in the right way,” Fein said.
ICE targets the Florida Panhandle community
Law enforcement officials and Republican leaders close to the Trump administration have allegedly targeted criminals, people who have illegally entered the country and have criminal records.
However, at the first state immigration and enforcement committee meeting on Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis opposed the incident, saying illegal entry was also a crime. I want you before a felony,” DeSantis said.
From January to February 17th, the Florida Highway Patrol detained 83 migrants who illegally entered the country and held criminal records.
“It sounds like you need to understand what they’re doing in the Panhandle, because that efficiency is hell per square mile more than anyone else you have there. Because,” state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy said, board member Patronis.
In Gadsden County, a traffic stop couple was pulled because of air cleaners and stickers that hang from the rearview mirror and blocking windshields, Huapila said she was told.
Craig J. Torosino, director of the Miami Law Innocence Clinic at the University of Miami, questioned Patronis’ use of the term “efficiency.”
“So 85% of the wrong things are not efficient. So, 8 arrests 58 people and therefore plague 50 innocent people (is).” Torosino said.
Florida law states: “Automobiles equipped with signs, posters or other non-transparent materials in the windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of such vehicles that significantly interfere with, ambiguously or undermine the driver’s clear views. Do not drive on highways or crossing highways. “Violation is a non-criminal traffic quote.
However, according to Florida’s appeal case law, traffic stops based solely on air cleaners hanging from the rearview mirror are not legal stops, Torosino said.
North Florida resident Pedro Popoca was also handed over in Gadsden County. He says the Florida Highway Patrol said his passengers were not wearing his seat belts. Popoka, who holds the document, doesn’t believe that the ice is just arresting criminals. They’re taking everyone with them. ”
According to immigration lawyers, people with traffic stops need not answer the question of whether they are US citizens. Rebecca Scharpress, a professor at the University of Miami law, said the U.S. Supreme Court spoke about immigration law and police authority to enforce people’s rights when questioned by police.
“People have the rights under the fifth amendment to the US Constitution to remain silent, and police cannot extend traffic stops to wait for immigration authorities to arrive,” Sharpless said. I did.
In Gadsden County, ICE agents are working with local law enforcement to carry out traffic stops at popular gas stations and local grocery store Piggly Wiggly. Trocino said people should check their cars before driving.
“If there is a frame around the license plate, remove it. If there is a crack in the windshield, correct it. If there is a crack in the taillight or headlight, correct it. Get it and fix it,” he said. “Even if justification is illegal, don’t drive your car and give us a reason to justify a traffic stop because you’re already in the process.”
The wife of the arrested man said she had not spoken to her husband, Hopira said. The couple is illiterate and does not have any family in the area to help them.
Huapilla hears Ice try to pick up their efforts this weekend, and questions why Desantis’ crackdown is focusing on Gadsden County.
“I don’t know if he has a heart or not. I don’t know if he has a family or not. I don’t know what’s going on in his mind, but that’s sad, And it’s inhumane,” she said.
“Is that because I’m brown?”
Popoka, 30, knew he was being pulled this week. His foreshadowing was that he invited his colleague Eli to ride with him to pick up the child from school.
Popoca is a construction supervisor. He normally drives a dodge charger, but since it was in the store he had a rental – a small sedan with no windows. As he was standing up at Greensboro Elementary School, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper flashed his lights and approached him.
When Popoka asks why he is being pulled, the trooper says that the passengers are not wearing seat belts. Popoka says they were both.
“So I said, ‘Is that the only reason you attracted us, or because I’m brown?” And he said, ‘Oh, no, it was a seat belt.’ So I said, “I know the whole operation you’re going on, but that’s fine, I’ll do you,” Popoka said.
After that, the trooper asks him more questions, such as where he goes (to pick up the kids from school for what he called “Daddy Daughter Day”) and whether he has children at school. did.
“I didn’t say I was just coming to pick up my kids?” And before he left to check my license, he said, ‘Are you a US citizen?” said.
Popoca told the officers to check his license as he saw Popoca had the document when he looked it up. When he returned he continued to ask Popoka’s question: Where did he work? Where did he go after he picked up his child from school?
He also asked Popoka’s colleague Eli if he was a US citizen. At the end of the traffic stop, Popoka was issued a warning that she was not wearing a seat belt.
“What they’re doing is find the most miscellaneous things that pull (people) in front of the car and make sure I don’t have stickers for everyone. They’re looking at your view It’s called it a hindrance, so make sure there’s nothing hanging from the rearview mirror. So they’ll find the most fake ones just to pull them,” Popoka says. I did.
Locals who have the documents start warning others on social media, taking photos of traffic stops and posting addresses. They also offered to run errands for those who do not have a driver’s license.
In Florida, immigrants who illegally enter the country due to their driver’s licenses are against the law.
“If you have a DACA or have a license to drive right now, help by helping the elderly, small children and those in need,” Popoka said.
“A lot of people just say that because they got the paper (they say) ‘Well, that’s not my problem. Just leave it to them,” and that’s how it works. there is no. Everyone needs to unite. ”
USA Today Network’s State Watchdog Reporter AnaGoñi-Lessan – Florida can visit agonilessan@gannett.com.
