Florida Deportation Orders Climb in June

Immigration judges in Florida issued 5,415 deportation orders in June, a 17.6% jump from March, according to data from the nonprofit Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

Nationally, judges issued about 79,000 removal orders in June, the highest monthly total on record and the most in President Trump’s second term. Florida’s 18% climb trailed the national average of 30%; Illinois orders more than doubled.

Since October, Guatemalans have received the most removal orders—5,027 deportations of roughly 35,300 statewide—followed by Venezuelans, Hondurans, and Cubans. Another 948 people were granted relief over that stretch.

Florida holds 3,934 detainees, fifth among states, with about a quarter at the state-run Baker County lockup known as Deportation Depot. Miami-Dade’s immigration court has 137,373 pending cases, more than any court in the country.

Police Union Opposes Property Tax Amendment

One of Florida’s largest police unions came out Friday against Amendment 3, the property tax cut on the November ballot.

Amendment 3 would raise the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and it wouldn’t touch school taxes. State economists put the annual cost to cities and counties at $11.86 billion.

Fraternal Order of Police President Jeff Stinson said the union backs tax relief but won’t support a plan with no clear way to fund police, fire, and emergency services, adding that public safety “should never become collateral damage.” The Florida Fire Chiefs Association formally opposed the amendment earlier this month, and the Florida Professional Firefighters have told members they’ll push the same funding concerns.

The Legislature wrote in a requirement that cities and counties spend remaining property tax revenue on public safety, infrastructure, schools, and debt first. The amendment needs 60% approval on Nov. 3.

Measles Cases Pass Last Year’s Total

The U.S. has recorded 2,295 measles cases so far in 2026, passing the 2,286 logged in all of last year and reaching the highest level in more than three decades.

Florida has counted 155 cases since Jan. 1, according to the Florida Department of Health, and most of them trace to an outbreak at Ave Maria University, a private Catholic college in Collier County.

A vaccine is available. Asked in Orlando on Friday what he’d tell families, state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo called the shot effective but stopped short of urging anyone to get it, saying people should be able to decide what goes into their body “in the absence of coercion.”

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: First lady Casey DeSantis announced a new resiliency educator endorsement that teachers can add to their state certificates. The training, an offshoot of her Resiliency Florida initiative, coaches teachers on building perseverance and confidence in students. (See Details)

➤ Jacksonville: Fat Tuesday, the New Orleans frozen-cocktail chain, is taking over the former Rain Dogs space at 1045 Park St. in Five Points. Business owners say they welcome the foot traffic but want the neighborhood’s character preserved. (More)

➤ Orange County: Mayor Jerry Demings is urging men to get screened for prostate cancer after routine quarterly checkups caught his cancer before symptoms appeared. (Read Story)

➤ Cocoa: The city landed a $2 million state grant toward an access road for its proposed $90 million Brightline station near U.S. 1 and State Road 528, and officials say they’re pressing ahead even after Fitch cut the rail company’s credit rating to CC. (See Details)

➤ St. Johns County: Bodycam footage was released Friday of the moment a deputy clocked a Chevrolet Corvette at 130 mph in a 45-mph zone on County Road 13 near Joe Ashton Road, 85 over the limit. (See Video)

➤ Broward County: Campus Guardian Angel, a Jacksonville company, plans to put school-safety drones equipped with strobes, sirens, and pepper spray in districts including Broward this fall. (Watch)

Enjoy reading Flyover Florida? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ The Miami Heat were among the teams LeBron James considered before he agreed Friday to a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers. James, entering his 24th season, called it his “last decision.” (More)

➤ Florida was picked to finish ninth in the SEC preseason media poll entering its first season under Jon Sumrall, who joined the Gators after leading Tulane to the College Football Playoff. (More)

➤ Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said Friday that some city council members seem “intent on killing the Rays plan even before negotiations are done,” one day after council votes complicated the proposed stadium project. (More)

➤ The Miami Marlins host the Padres in the finale of their three-game series this afternoon. Miami entered Saturday on a 10-game losing streak, one shy of the franchise record. (Yesterday’s Score)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Golf

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ FREE Full-Size Tube. What if the biggest myth about joint discomfort is that it’s “just part of getting older”? Thousands are discovering Rub On Relief and a different approach to soothing stiff, achy joints. For a limited time, Flyover readers can request a FREE full-size tube.

Flying together with our sponsor

Data Centers Built For Coexistence

Communities across the country are pushing back on data centers, and for good reason. Massive facilities are draining local water supplies, straining power grids, and disrupting neighborhoods, all while offering little in return.

BluSky AI took a different approach. 

Their SkyMod prefabricated, AI-ready data centers use less power, require little to no water, and fit onto smaller footprints. This minimizes the impact on the communities they’re built near, from Colorado to Texas. This is AI infrastructure designed to coexist, not compete, with the people around it.

BluSky AI’s model is a unique solution to meet the high market demands that aren’t being met by the industry.. Become a BluSky AI shareholder as they open the door to everyday investors. 

➤ University of Florida students dug up a roughly 400-year-old pot made by the Potano-Timucua at a mission site near campus. Earlier fieldwork at the same Potano village turned up glass beads, animal bones, and stone tools. (Read Story)

➤ Deputies are posing for photo shoots with adoptable shelter dogs under a new “Paws and Protectors” campaign with Broward County Animal Care. Spud, photographed with Deputy Eric Swenson this week, went home with a new owner Friday. (Watch)

➤ The Gulfarium CARE Center released three rehabilitated sea turtles at James Lee Park after Tropical Storm Bertha delayed the event. One was plucked off the jetty rocks at Norriego Point during the storm, which washed over all but four of Destin’s 22 marked nests. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Apply This Before Bedtime To Smooth 75% Wrinkles By Morning. A powerful anti-aging nutrient helps relax facial muscles while you sleep, leaving wrinkles visibly softer by morning – without needles or costly creams. Watch the video here.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Delivery giants are rushing to keep weight-loss drugs cold. (Hear More)

➤ Thousands celebrated the birthday of the internet’s favorite little monkey. (Listen Now)

➤  A beloved honey farm teetered on collapse, but one beekeeper refused to quit. (Podcast Available)

SpaceX launched a satellite repair drone with 10-foot robotic arms to Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday afternoon.

Do you use Brightline for transportation?

1. Frequently
2. Sometimes
3. I’ve thought about it
4. No convenient routes
5. Not my thing

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you support Flock license plate cameras?

1. No: 32%
2. Yes: 25%
3. Undecided: 23%
4. Yes, with more limits: 20%

Brightline’s first passengers boarded in January 2018—but not in Miami, which didn’t get service for another four months. Which two cities did the original route connect?

Show me the answer