Florida's eagerness to position itself as the model state in the fight against illegal immigration is embodied by both a symbol and a face. The symbol is the "Alligator Alcatraz," an improvised tent detention camp set up on the tarmac of a former airfield in the middle of the Everglades National Park, whose fate remains tied to hurricanes that regularly sweep through this natural area. The face is that of Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez. This 20-year-old American citizen, born in neighboring Georgia, was arrested on April 17 and placed in detention – until authorities realized their mistake – under a law signed in February by Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, that criminalizes entering the state without legal status.

Following an appeal by migrant aid organizations who consider this to be a strictly federal matter, a federal judge blocked its application pending a ruling on the merits. The US Supreme Court ruled in their favor on Wednesday, July 9. Despite this setback for Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, the Sunshine State continues to present itself as the opposite of Democratic-led California, where since June, clashes have erupted between federal immigration authorities (ICE) and residents protesting against aggressive tactics.

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