Youn-Joo Park

Temporary Protected Status is eliminated for Haiti, along with numerous other countries, forcing nationals who were once in the United States legally under the program to lose their status. Florida is home to the largest Haitian population in the U.S., with more than 27,000 living in Southwest Florida alone, mostly in Lee and Collier counties, where there are myriad opportunities for work. Now, however, Haitians who were here under TPS can no longer work to support their families and are at risk of being sent home to unlivable conditions. This reality is unfolding across the country.

In Tuesday’s primary election, the voters of Bonita Springs approved the funding of the Bonita-Estero rail-trail project.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are no longer present at the Southwest International Airport (RSW) as of Sunday, April 5, according to Steve Hennigan, executive director and CEO of the Lee County Port Authority. Hennigan updated members of the Chamber of Southwest Florida with this information on Wednesday's presentation to the group about airport developments.

It was a show of protest, frustration, disaffection and concern and it was shared by thousands Saturday in various Southwest Florida sites, other parts of the state and across the United States and the world. The No Kings III event was billed as a protest rally and drew people of many different political affiliations who said they had concerns with how the current administration in Washington run by President Donald Trump was handling things.

The Midwest Food Bank Florida in Fort Myers is trying to channel more foods to the community, to practice "retail rescue," but it has only one van that is not refrigerated. It recently received funds to purchase a new refrigerated van, but more community support is needed.

Federal immigration officers were deployed at Southwest Florida International Airport Monday to supplement the Transportation Security Administration during a government shutdown currently in effect.