The images emerging from California – raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement spiraling into chaos, immigrant families fleeing their homes and National Guard troops confronting peaceful protesters – are chilling reminders of how far we’ve strayed from the democratic values we claim to uphold. This is not the America I know. This is not the America we aspire to be. 

We are a nation built on justice, compassion and the unwavering belief that every person deserves dignity and respect. What’s happening in Los Angeles betrays those principles. 

Deploying more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines – without a formal request from state and Los Angeles officials – is a dangerous overreach. It risks escalating tensions and suppressing the constitutional right to protest. What we need is leadership that listens – not one that responds to fear with force. 

In South Florida, immigration isn’t some abstract debate. It’s personal. Our region is home to vibrant Haitian, Jamaican, Venezuelan, Cuban and Central American communities. These are our nurses, pastors, teachers, small business owners and caregivers. They keep our economy strong and our neighborhoods thriving. 

That’s why the renewed

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