by Daniel Johnson

August 9, 2025

Former NBA Guard Malik Beasley Evicted From Luxury Apartment Amid Federal Gambling Probe

Although Beasley has not yet been charged with a crime, he is being investigated as part of a federal gambling probe

The hits to former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley keep coming, this time via an Aug. 9 order mandating his eviction from his $7,000 a month luxury apartment in The Stott, a 38-story skyscraper located near downtown Detroit. Although Beasley has not yet been charged with a crime, he is also being investigated as part of a federal gambling probe.

Axios reports that Beasley owes $23,220 in back rent and fees to The Stotts — now owned by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert — on top of more than $8 million in debt to a marketing firm, a lender for professional athletes, and other creditors, despite earning about $60 million over his NBA career.

As ESPN reported, Beasley has been sued twice by his landlord in Michigan’s 36th District Court. Although the first case was dismissed in March, the second suit was successful after Beasley failed to appear. Beasley is also the third NBA player to be investigated by the Eastern District of New York during the past 18 months for gambling allegations.

Beasley’s allegations stem from the 2023-2024 season when he played for the Milwaukee Bucks. According to Steve Haney, his lawyer in the gambling lawsuit, “An investigation is not a charge. Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now, he has not been charged with anything.”

How did a mysterious NBA Twitter user know about Malik Beasley's involvement in a betting scandal… before the NBA?

Turns out, he's the cousin of an alleged co-conspirator in the Jontay Porter case, with a private meme-coin chat. We found @FreeMoose_NBA — then he vanished again. pic.twitter.com/6S3nJWC7Zp
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) July 15, 2025

Why Malik Beasley's scandal is just the beginning of these gambling issues:

"We are addicted to our phones as is … You think somebody is not gonna get addicted to the part that you can make money with?" pic.twitter.com/qcnskVIBSj
— The Right Time with Bomani Jones (@righttimebomani) June 30, 2025

Second gambling investigation this week after the probe into Malik Beasley became public.

Seems like an eternity ago when Roger Goodell said, “The perception of the integrity of the game is as important as the integrity itself. If it is lost, the consequences can be enormous.” https://t.co/XWWlozQs2p pic.twitter.com/gOgg6m76aQ
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) July 3, 2025

Pablo Torre, the investigative sports journalist at the center of several major sports stories, including the revelation of a decision regarding the NFL’s collusion that a judge ruled was not technically collusion, which the league had sought to conceal, is also responsible for breaking the Malik Beasley betting scandal story wide open.

Torre uncovered that a mysterious X user named “Moose” first hinted that Beasley would be the next player under investigation, without directly naming him, in a series of posts. Moose mentioned Johntay Porter and Terry Rozier, then obscured Beasley’s name with asterisks, which still made the implication clear. Torre reported that Moose is allegedly the cousin of a suspected co-conspirator in the Johntay Porter case.

Before the news of Beasley’s investigation hit, he had parlayed one of his best seasons into a discussion with the Pistons regarding a three-year $42 million deal with the organization to remain in Detroit.

As the investigation unfolds, discussions with NBA teams appear to have paused, and broader conversations have resurfaced about the potential downsides of legalized sports gambling, particularly as professional leagues embrace it while restricting player participation.

For his part, Torre addressed how the influence of sports betting sponsorships affected him as a journalist during a recent appearance on Semafor Media’s Mixed Signals podcast, “In the back of my head … we [did] have this full free reign to do whatever we want, [but] it would have gotten increasingly uncomfortable for us to investigate sports gambling with a partner that basically needed to, like, take its logo off the episode. It would be a strange dance,” Torre noted.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2025

Legionnaires’ Outbreak In Harlem Leaves 3 Dead, Sickens 83

Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia, can take up to 14 days to show symptoms.

Three people have died, and 83 cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been reported in Central Harlem as the outbreak has affected that area since July 25.

According to ABC 7 News, the outbreak has been linked to cooling towers, structures containing water, and a fan used to cool buildings. It has affected a cluster of communities in zip codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039. The source has not been identified, but officials have stated that 11 cooling towers, which have been found to be contaminated with the Legionella bacteria, have been remediated.

“I want to start by telling you that all of the towers that have tested positive have been treated with anti-bacterial treatments to end the spread of the bacteria,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse.

Health officials have informed the public that one can get the disease by breathing in water vapor that has Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water. Legionnaires’ disease cannot be spread person-to-person.

Individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, or difficulty breathing, are advised to seek medical attention. People who may be at higher risk, such as people over 50, cigarette smokers, and those with chronic lung disease or compromised immune systems, should go to a medical professional if they have symptoms. Officials do not anticipate the outbreak spreading to other communities.

“Anyone in these zip codes with flu-like symptoms should contact a health care provider as soon as possible,” said  Dr. Michelle Morse. “Legionnaires’ disease can be effectively treated if diagnosed early, but New Yorkers at higher risk, like adults aged 50 and older and those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions, should be especially mindful of their symptoms and seek care as soon as symptoms begin.”

Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia, can take up to 14 days to develop symptoms.

The Amsterdam News reported that outbreaks have occurred in Harlem in the past, most recently in 2019 and again in 2021, although they were not as widespread as the current one.

State Sen. Cordell Cleare wonders why this only happens in Black and Brown communities like Harlem. A bill was recently introduced that would mandate building certification for cooling tower legionella testing.

“It’s very mysterious in the way that people are getting it, but not only that, it’s mysterious that it seems that these cases continue to occur in Black and Brown communities at this level. So we’re just trying to figure out what it is, this time, that has made this spread in these particular zip codes. The answers are slow and they’re not there.”

by Daniel Johnson

August 9, 2025

Rep. Ro Khanna Promotes Tech Job Training Program During Trip To Jackson State

Khanna visited Jackson, Mississippi, to spotlight TechWise, a Google-funded initiative he has helped introduce to HBCUs like Jackson State nationwide.

Following a $1.3 million grant awarded to Jackson State University to expand its artificial intelligence programs, California Rep. Ro Khanna visited Jackson, Mississippi, to spotlight TechWise, a Google-funded initiative he has helped introduce to HBCUs like Jackson State nationwide.

According to The Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, three years ago, the university joined the program after Rep. Khanna opened discussions with the university and Almesha Campbell, JSU’s vice president for research and economic development.

As she told the outlet, the university has matriculated 35 students through the program. Currently, it has 12 students enrolled, which she described as a “workforce program” that combines skill-building and industry experience.

Jackson’s Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba kicked off the program and introduced Rep. Khanna to the crowd at the Smith Robertson Museum, whom he said he had met at a rally for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“What we did was create a program to create technology jobs and training across the country, and we partnered with about 15 different HBCUs. The students participate in a 10-hour per week, 18-month course, and then those kids get a $65,000 to $85,000 job in technology, but they also learn and are able to be mentors to future students in the program,” Rep. Khanna said in his remarks.

He continued, “We’re producing more wealth than we ever have in the history of this country and only 1% or 2% of Black Americans are getting venture capital. We excluded the Black community from the agricultural revolution, we excluded the Black community from a lot of the industrial revolution. Shame on us if the Black community is excluded from the digital revolution.”

TechWise, the outlet notes, was launched by the education technology company TalentSprint and receives funding from Google to provide free preparation for students from disadvantaged backgrounds for high-paying careers in technology.

As part of the program, participants receive training, mentorship, networking, and industry experience. The main track of the program runs for 18 months, featuring live virtual classes, coding exercises, and industry projects led by experienced instructors.

In addition, students will also participate in masterclasses provided by Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science, which will award them with an official credential.

As Rep. Khanna told Mississippi Today, he has a deep appreciation for the civil rights movement, which he expressed by describing his grandfather’s participation in Mahatma Gandhi’s movement for Indian independence from British rule. That movement, as BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, inspired the nonviolent resistance tactics employed by Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers, among others.

Rep. Khanna also indicated that he believes that the national Democratic Party needs to invest more in Mississippi, and generally, the South, where Black people and people of color live, held captive politically by voter suppression states. By investing in those states, Democratic candidates in states like Mississippi, Texas, and Florida could become more competitive in statewide elections.

“The Civil Rights Movement then led to the Immigration Reform Act of 1965, and that’s what led my parents to come to the United States. Anyone who wants to understand the history of segregation, the history of racial justice, has to understand Mississippi,” Khanna said. “And anyone who wants to see the hope and promise of economic development has to come here.”

Fat Joe, BET, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards

by Daniel Johnson

August 9, 2025

BET Suspends Soul Train And Hip-Hop Awards; Fat Joe Calls It ‘A Form of Gentrification’

The changes at BET have likely been triggered by the merger of BET's parent company, Paramount Global, with Skydance Media, according to reports.

Two staple programs that focus on the impact of Black culture, the BET Hip Hop Awards and the Soul Train Music Awards, have been indefinitely suspended; however, according to BET’s CEO, Scott Mills, who hinted in comments to Billboard, they could return via the network’s streaming platform.

According to Rolling Stone, doubts about the future of the Soul Train Awards began to rise in 2024 when the show, which had been airing since 1987, was skipped and its social media accounts went silent in March of that year. The BET Hip-Hop Awards, a newer innovation from BET, is an awards show that branched out from its BET Awards show, began airing in 2006, and, like the Soul Train Awards, has aired every year on the network.

“So for BET linear, we have suspended the Soul Train and Hip-Hop award shows,” Mills told Billboard. BET linear refers to the programming on the BET channel, the network’s original cable channel. “But we have a team that’s actively thinking about where those award shows might best live as the media climate continues to evolve. They aren’t gone.”

Mills continued, “I would say that it’s less about them being no longer and more about our team having to reimagine them for this changing media landscape that we find ourselves in. I think what we’re going to see are more people taking franchises and saying, ‘This might have started on linear television, but now I’m going to move it to another space. Do I move it to streaming? Or do I move it to another platform?’”

Although Mills believes that the programming will return, he noted that the BET Hip-Hop Awards’ viewership pattern had been trending downward since 2001.

“Viewership was down. However, the cable ecosystem is smaller today than it was a year ago. That’s just the reality of it. It was an extraordinary show. And honestly, I attribute the viewership declines less to the declines in the cable ecosystem and more to the fact that we moved the night of the show,” Mills concluded.

According to Billboard‘s reporting, the changes at BET have likely been triggered by the merger of BET’s parent company, Paramount Global, with Skydance Media. Mills avoided any direct comment about BET’s place in Paramount’s future pecking order, but lauded the company’s position as the leading Black media platform.

“That’s a loss for the culture.” Joe and Jada had LOTS to say about BET canceling the Soul Train and Hip Hop Awards pic.twitter.com/dhSZlmtk5u
— Joe and Jada (@JoeAndJada) August 7, 2025

In a recent episode of their podcast, “Joe and Jada,” rappers Fat Joe and Jadakiss discussed the situation that started in earnest when BET’s founder, Bob Johnson, sold BET to Viacom, ending the network’s long run as a Black-owned company in 2000.

The company was subsequently acquired by Paramount once Viacom was absorbed by Paramount Global, which had looked to sell the company in 2024, but backed out of the buyer’s market after a potential sale of BET was linked to figures like Byron Allen, BET’s CEO himself and a private equity group, and even Sean Combs and Tyler Perry.

“This is a form of gentrification, what’s going on. I don’t know if you really want to ask me about this sh*t,” said Fat Joe, Vibe reported.

He added, “BET came up as a community station for Black people and urban culture. Our man Bob Johnson took the check…he sold it to Viacom Paramount. MTV and them. VH1 and them. Little by little over the years, quietly, they’ve been firing a lot of people behind the scenes at BET, and everybody who has something to say, they been firing them. And I know ’cause I’ve been working on the BET Hip-Hop Awards for three years. Sh*t was like the budget, not for me, but the budget just kept getting chopped and chopped and chopped.”

Jay-Z, old west, black folks, book of Clarence, new testament, film, produce, movie, Reebok, super bowl

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2025

‘The Book Of Hov: A Tribute to JAY-Z’ Limited Edition Sold For More Than $163K At Auction

The book was sold at Christie's for $163,800.

The JAY-Z exhibit, “Book of Hov,” at the Brooklyn Public Library was a great success when it emerged in the New York City borough in the summer of 2023. A limited-edition, autographed book centered on the exhibit was recently auctioned for $163,800.

Christie’s auction house posted on its social media account that a limited edition “Book of HOV: A Tribute to JAY-Z” book, one of only five published, was recently auctioned. The book was created in collaboration with the Brooklyn billionaire’s company, Roc Nation, Assouline, and artist Daniel Arsham. The book was inspired by the exhibit showcased from July 14, 2023, to Dec. 4, 2023, in celebration of the rapper’s birth.

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A post shared by Boardroom (@boardroom)

The Book of HOV exhibition featured never-before-seen photos, art, and ephemera from the Brooklyn-bred artist’s archives. Last December, it was announced on his 55th birthday that The Book of Hov: A Tribute to Jay-Z was being released. The 432-page publication was the book version of the 2023 exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library. It featured nearly 700 images across eight chapters, allowing readers to see key moments and artifacts from the 30-year career of the Politics As Usual lyricist. Those included outfits worn by JAY-Z, rare interviews, awards, and more.

The book went on sale with three premium editions: the Classic Edition was priced at $120; the Ultimate Edition at $2,000; and the aforementioned special limited-edition version. Each special edition came with a tri-fold design enclosed in a bronze slipcase created by Arsham.

With JAY-Z keeping himself busy with the many businesses he runs, people are clamoring to hear him on a record again after several appearances at his wife, Beyonce’s, Cowboy Carter Tour. There have also been rumors circulating that the rapper may grace the halftime field of the upcoming Super Bowl by performing at the halftime show—no word about whether either is true or even being considered by the veteran recording artist.

by Kandiss Edwards

August 9, 2025

The U.S. Virgin Islands Nominates A New Commissioner Of Tourism

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., of the U.S. Virgin Islands announced the nomination of Jennifer Matarangas-King for Commissioner of Tourism.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands announced the nomination of Jennifer Matarangas-King to serve as the next Commissioner of Tourism. A native of St. Croix, Matarangas-King brings over 30 years of extensive experience in strategic communications and public affairs to the role.

Her deep understanding of the territory’s culture and a strong commitment to service align perfectly with the Department’s goals for growth. In a press release, Bryan expressed his confidence in Matarangas-King’s abilities.

“Tourism is more than our economy. It is how we tell our story to the world and create opportunities for the people of the Virgin Islands. Jennifer understands that.”

Building on Tourism Growth

Matarangas-King succeeds Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, who led the Department through a historic period of success. During Boschulte’s tenure, the U.S. Virgin Islands grew to be a top Caribbean destination, seeing record-breaking numbers in air and cruise arrivals.

The Department’s innovative marketing campaigns and groundbreaking partnerships in sports and entertainment helped the islands thrive. Approximately 927,000 tourists entered the islands. This figure marked a 15.9% increase from 2023, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported. This momentum led to the island’s economic recovery, increased visitor spending, and record-high collections for the Tourism Advertising and Revolving Fund.

A Vision for the Future

Matarangas-King has a clear vision for the future of tourism in the islands, with a background that includes public service. Furthermore, she has a long career in telecommunications, which brings a broad perspective to the position. Her previous roles, including serving as press secretary to Gov. Roy Schneider and a leadership position at Viya, aid her in navigating the complex position.

“Tourism is one of the most powerful tools we have to shape the future of these Virgin Islands,” Matarangas-King said. “It drives investment, fuels entrepreneurship, and celebrates our identity. I look forward to working alongside our tourism stakeholders and the incredible team at the Department to elevate our product, empower our people, and expand our reach as a premier Caribbean destination.”

With Matarangas-King leading the Department of Tourism, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John would be well-positioned for an exciting future.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 9, 2025

Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade Will Present Carmelo Anthony At Upcoming NBA Hall Of Fame Ceremony

The induction ceremony will take place at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, Sept. 6.

When former New York Knicks player Carmelo Anthony is enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September, he will have two fellow NBA Hall of Famers, Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, there to present him.

The NBA announced the presenters and honorees for this year’s induction ceremony, which will take place at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, the “Birthplace of Basketball,” on Sept. 6.

Anthony selected Iverson, with whom he played when both were on the Denver Nuggets and one of his “Banana Boat” brethren (consisting of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul).

The new Hall of Famers were asked to pick other honorees who had been inducted before them to present them at the enshrinement ceremony. Iverson entered the Hall of Fame in 2016, while Wade was inducted in 2023.

Former Orlando Magic center, Dwight Howard, is also being inducted, and selected Boston Celtics great Robert Parish (2003), Atlanta Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins (2006), Knicks’ Patrick Ewing (2008), and Chicago Bulls’ Dennis Rodman (2011), to present.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony Presenters. (1/3) #25HoopClass pic.twitter.com/dJQalqELhV
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) August 7, 2025

Anthony was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and during his playing years, suited up for the Knicks, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, the Portland Trail Blazers, before ending his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

During his only season of college basketball, he led Syracuse University to its first and only NCAA men’s basketball tournament championship. He then entered the 2003 NBA Draft, where the Denver Nuggets made him the third overall pick.

Anthony is among the most decorated players in the history of the United States Olympic men’s basketball team. In four Olympics, he won three gold medals and became the all-time leader in games played and rebounds while ranking second in points. He set the U.S. Olympic scoring record in 2012 with 37 points in a game against Nigeria.

The 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees and Presenters

Carmelo Anthony – Allen Iverson (Class of 2016), Dwyane Wade (‘23)

Micky Arison – Alonzo Mourning (‘14), Pat Riley (‘08), Dwyane Wade (‘23)

Sue Bird – Geno Auriemma (‘06), Swin Cash (‘22)

Danny Crawford – Tim Hardaway (‘22), Isiah Thomas (‘00)

Billy Donovan – Maurice Cheeks (‘18), Rick Pitino (‘13)

Sylvia Fowles – Katie Smith (‘18), Lindsay Whalen (‘22)

Dwight Howard – Patrick Ewing (‘08), Robert Parish (‘03), Dennis Rodman (‘11), Dominique Wilkins (‘06)

Maya Moore – Seimone Augustus (‘24), Geno Auriemma (‘06), Swin Cash (‘22), Tamika Catchings (‘20), Lindsay Whalen (‘22)

2008 USA Men’s National Team – Jim Boeheim (‘05), Chris Bosh (‘21), Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Jason Kidd (‘18), Mike Krzyzewski (‘01), Dwyane Wade (‘23)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 8, 2025

Black Lesbian Couple ‘Grateful To Be Alive’ After Alleged Racist Attack In Virginia

Police are investigating a possible hate crime involving a Black lesbian couple and three alleged white supremacists.

Authorities are investigating the details surrounding a Black lesbian couple’s near-fatal run-in with alleged white supremacists in Spotsylvania, Virginia, last month.

According to police, deputies responded to reports from a July 20 incident of a gun and vehicle crash involving Amylah Majors and Jamaria Gaskins, a married couple who were experiencing car trouble when they were targeted with racist slurs and threats from armed suspects, WUSA9 reports.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by the couple says they pulled over on Partlow Road in Spotsylvania County to inspect their vehicle after driving over heavy debris. However, instead of help, they were approached by two white men and a white woman who berated them with hateful, racist slurs and brandished weapons.

“As we tried to leave, all three of them jumped into vehicles and chased us down the road. One of them rode up beside us on a 4-wheeler and aimed a gun directly at my head through the driver’s window,” Gaskin wrote on GoFundMe. “In that moment, we truly believed we weren’t going to make it out alive.”

“They called us [N-words], told us we didn’t belong there, and one of them even exposed himself while screaming hate and slurs at us,” Majors added.

Majors said she woke up in the hospital with a fractured spine, broken clavicle, broken rib, severe concussion, and multiple head injuries that required staples. Both she and Gaskins are still dealing with the effects of their concussions.

“I am beyond grateful to be alive,” Majors said.

Following the incident, Mark Goodman, 59, was charged with indecent exposure after he was recorded exposing his backside to the couple. Elizabeth Wolfrey, 32, was charged with one count of pointing and brandishing a firearm. A third person recorded during the incident was not charged with a crime “at this time,” Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Maj. Delbert Myrick said.

The couple’s crowdfunding campaign, created to help cover medical bills from the crash and replace their totaled car, raised nearly $10,000 by Aug. 8. Goodman and Wolfrey were released on bail and are set to appear in court on Nov. 20.

The local NAACP has gotten involved in the incident as a possible hate crime.

“We are concerned and we’re definitely going to be requesting a more thorough investigation under the premises of a hate crime,” Spotsylvania NAACP President Pastor Mozett Petway said.

GloRilla, hip hop, sprite, anniversary, tour, lil baby

by Kandiss Edwards

August 8, 2025

GloRilla Partners With Her Ex-Employer To Offer $4 Discount Meal Deals

GloRilla, once a drive-thru worker, is partnering with her former place of employment, Checkers and Rally's, to offer fans a discounted meal.

Rapper GloRilla, birth name Gloria Hallelujah Woods, is partnering with the fast-food chain Checkers & Rally’s to offer fans a special “Unbeatable Meal Deal.”

The Memphis-born artist, known for her hit tracks like F.N.F. and Tomorrow 2, is teaming up with the burger and fries joint to offer her supporters a budget-friendly meal deal. Woods is returning to her roots with this collaboration. In her teen years, the chart-topping rapper worked at Checkers & Rally’s. Her stint working the drive-thru was used as a setup in her promotional video.

On Instagram, she posted the video and a short message detailing what’s included in the $4 deal.

“Glo Da P ain’t ever steered you wrong — 4 items for $4?! Pick one (Cheese Double, Spicy Chicken, or Glo’s BBQ Jacked Burger), add fries, a drink, AND an apple pie. That’s a full plate for a lil’ price. Pull up NOW.”

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A post shared by Glo Da P (@glorillapimp)

The move is on brand for the Memphis-born rapper who often finds ways to stay connected to her community, despite her superstar status. In a statement, GloRilla discussed her childhood history with the food chain.

“I grew up going to Checkers, so this partnership feels really authentic to me,” GloRilla said. “I’m excited to give my fans a meal that’s not only delicious but also easy on their pockets. It’s all about good food and good vibes.”

Checkers & Rally’s has a history of engaging with popular culture and recognizing the influence of artists like GloRilla. The brand also has a heavy presence in Glo’s home state of Tennessee. There are 14 locations across the state, five in Woods’s hometown of Memphis. This partnership not only offers a great deal for customers but also taps into the artist’s dedicated fan base, creating a buzz around the brand and the meal.

The “Glo’s Unbeatable Meal Deal” is available at participating Checkers & Rally’s locations nationwide for a limited time. This collaboration is another in a long line of musicians and fast-food brands joining forces. For GloRilla’s fans, or fans of the Checkers & Rally’s brand, it’s a chance to enjoy a meal at a great price.

by Mitti Hicks

August 8, 2025

Black Mayor Cooperates With ICE Due To Alleged ‘Threats’ From Florida Governor

Demings said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier threatened to suspend local officials from office without the agreement.

Orange County, Florida, Mayor Jerry Demings said that he signed an agreement to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to threats from Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier.

During a news conference Monday, Demings told reporters that his decision was made “under protest and in extreme duress.”

“Yes, I signed the damn thing because we really had to. We were put in a tough spot,” Demings said during the news conference. “I can’t let our entire board of county commissioners and myself be removed from office.”

Demings said he felt it was the right thing to do at the right time as DeSantis and Uthmeier threatened to suspend local officials from office. The agreement allows ICE to conscript local law enforcement, including correctional officers, to detain and transport people who are violating Florida immigration laws to federal detention facilities, NBC News reports.

ICE Immigration Enforcement Increases Beyond Florida

In Florida, DeSantis has exerted his executive power to suspend Democratic leaders who fail to comply with the Trump administration’s far-right agenda. DeSantis has already removed two Democratic prosecutors since 2022.

While Trump campaigned on fixing the immigration problem in the United States by getting rid of violent undocumented criminals, there are multiple reports of people with no criminal record being detained. Since Trump took office in January 2025, immigration enforcement has changed drastically. ICE agents have raided places that have historically been protected, such as courts, hospitals, schools, and churches.

According to an investigation by The Seattle Times, immigration enforcement has increased nationwide, with many of those arrested in Washington and nationwide not having a criminal record. Nationally, ICE’s monthly arrest average has more than doubled what it was in Biden’s last 16 full months, its investigation found.

New data, however, show that the majority of the country disapproves of the Trump administration’s handling of immigration. According to Brookings, overall attitudes about immigration have made a U-turn. Support for decreasing immigration has fallen by nearly half, to just 30%, and a record-high 79% now consider immigration to be good for the country.