Residents in a Southwest Florida jurisdiction are upset after a regional mainstream media reporter sent out a request for locals to go on the record scathing President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and law enforcement’s recent illegal alien raids in the state.
Tomas Rodriguez, a reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press – which encompass the Collier and Lee County areas – posted in the Lehigh Acres FL Community Bulletin Board on Facebook, saying he’s “working on a story about the most recent anti-immigration operation. ICE boasted nearly 800 detainees.”
Residents took issue with the reporter’s admission of a preconceived negative opinion of his report: “Looking for people in SWFL who would be willing to talk about the situation in a somewhat chaotic way.”
Rodriguez also said he wants comments from the “Hispanic population” about the arrests.
The post, sent out on Tuesday, has over 60 comments, many of which are from angry locals.
The operation from President Donald Trump’s administration came as the Florida Legislature, headed by Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez, worked with DeSantis to produce strong anti-illegal immigration legislation as Trump took office.
DeSantis signed the legislation, and it was immediately put in motion, allowing Florida law enforcement greater latitude in immigration enforcement.
Since then, both county-level and state-level law enforcement have entered into agreements with ICE and have been helping detain illegal aliens.
“Operation Tidal Wave,” which resulted in nearly 800 illegal alien arrests, took place as a “first-of-its-kind partnership” between ICE and Florida law enforcement.
“I have close friends that went through all the red tape & proper channels to get loved ones & family into this country legally,” said Mindy Schmidt in response to the inquiry. “It is disrespectful & a slap in the face to those that worked hard & paid thousands to do it right. If you are in this country illegally, you should be deported. Not given welfare, money & resources to be here.”
“How about reporting the news and not a scripted ‘chaotic’ response,” said Sean Barney.
“Let ICE [do] their job, stay out of it,” Robert Wilson said.
“You mean the anti-illegal immigrants?” said Maggie Gonzalez. “That came to destroy our country while raping and murdering our women and children. Got everything free while the American citizens worked to support their families and paid taxes for the illegal immigrant freeloader criminals. Thank you ICE.”
“This ‘writer’ is anti-American and using his position to prop up an agenda that we soundly rejected in the November election,” said John Kisic.
Ultimately, the Naples Daily News ran one story, with the help of Rodriguez and reporters Ana Goni-Lessan and Valentina Palm.
“Shock and anger: Florida immigrant communities react to ‘Operation Tidal Wave,’” the story’s headline reads. It’s unclear if that’s the specific report Rodriguez sought comments for, but it includes no comments from Southwest Florida residents.
They should be thankful they’re not shot on sight.