A group of students is suing Florida International University administrators with the support of the ACLU and other civil rights groups, alleging the school violated their First Amendment rights.

Why it matters: The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, is the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between the university and a handful of members of the student-led group ICEbreakers.

• It also underscores the growing tensions between federally protected speech and new rules on college campuses that limit expression.

Catch up quick: In April, university officials alleged that seven students violated conduct policies by silently standing up while wearing "ICE Out" shirts during a fireside chat involving university president Jeanette Nuñez.

• Despite acknowledging the students' actions didn't disrupt the event, officials sent each a letter alleging they violated campus policy that prohibits "protests, parades, marches, picketing, demonstrations and other similar expressive activities" inside university buildings.
• That same policy, however, defines "expressive activities" as protected by the First Amendment.
• In June, the students were found "responsible" for their actions and required to submit recorded "reflection" videos detailing how they violated university policy and how they will comply in the future.
• In July, their university appeals were denied.

The latest: The 13-page suit, which names five university officials including Nuñez as defendants, is requesting the judge declare that policy a First Amendment violation.

• It also asks the court to block the policy from being enforced while the case is pending.

What they're saying: This series of events is "part of a pattern of stifling dissent at FIU, in Florida and at universities across the country," said Miriam Haskell, senior attorney and director of litigation at Community Justice Project, who's among those representing the students.

• "This is a First Amendment and a free speech issue, but it can't be separated from the underlying issue of immigrant justice, and the call the students are making to disentangle themselves from immigration enforcement," she said.

The other side: Florida International University officials did not respond to Axios' request for comment on the lawsuit.

Between the lines: Last year, FIU voluntarily partnered with ICE's controversial 287(g) program, which empowers the campus police to enforce federal immigration laws.

What's next: The lawsuit seeks a jury trial.

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Americans across the country could have very different experiences with AI deepfakes leading up to Election Day, thanks to a patchwork of state rules.

Why it matters: AI-generated attack ads and campaign content are rampant leading up to the midterms as candidates across the political spectrum use the technology.

State of play: Twenty-nine states have AI election deepfake laws in effect, while two others — California and Hawaii — have had their laws permanently enjoined, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

• Florida requires AI-generated media depicting a person performing an act that didn't occur or with the intention to deceive voters regarding a ballot issue to include a disclaimer that it was created by AI.
• Minnesota and Texas prohibit political deepfakes for a certain number of days before an election. Maryland's ban is year-round.

The big picture: At the federal level, lawmakers have yet to establish a baseline standard for election AI deepfakes.

Zoom out: Congress' first AI deepfakes law addressed a different issue.

• The Take It Down Act, which took effect in May, marked Congress' first attempt at tackling nonconsensual intimate imagery — an issue that has collided with election ads targeting women lawmakers.
• Passing the law was one thing. Implementing it effectively is another, advocates say, citing inconsistent removal processes of posts and predicting litigation will be needed to secure strong enforcement.
• Lawmakers are also seeking to build on that first step, with House Democrats planning to push legislation next year specifically targeting election deepfakes if they regain power.

The bottom line: Proposals to tackle AI in elections have been floated in Congress for years, but states have moved faster — creating different realities for voters depending on where they live.

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Global Empowerment Mission in Doral is accepting donations and coordinating an emergency response to support those impacted by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Monday. (Miami Herald)

• As of Tuesday, at least 181 people had been confirmed dead.

Taquiza's Little River location has begun its soft opening (11am-9pm daily). (Instagram)

Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Cuban-American Republican from Miami, is resigning from the state legislature following his U.S. Senate confirmation to be the next U.S. ambassador to Brazil. (WLRN)

Hillstone at Bal Harbour abruptly closed this week after 11 years, multiple outlets reported.

Why it matters: The upscale restaurant is the latest in a string of both high-profile and neighborhood restaurant closures.

• On Sunday, popular arepa spot La Latina closed after 15 years.

State of plate: The restaurant group didn't disclose the reason for its closure.

• But some industry accounts suggest Bal Harbour's ongoing multimillion-dollar expansion and plans to pursue a development expansion under Florida's Live Local Act played a role in the restaurant's closure.

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🍎 Continuing with our first-day-of-school spirit, here's our Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood reporter Naomi Feinstein, ready for her first day of preschool at Temple Kol Ami in Plantation.

• Her lunch? She guessed her mom packed a challah and butter sandwich.

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