Axios Miami

August 11, 2026
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Today's newsletter is 937 words — a 3.5-minute read
1 big thing: Trump deportations costs

Floridian taxpayers would pay about $2,900 each for President Trump's mass deportation push, according to a new calculator tool from the Economic Policy Institute.
Why it matters: The estimate fuels debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to deportations could instead fund other public priorities such as food assistance, health care or housing.
By the numbers: EPI estimates the $268.9 billion projected for deportations could alternatively fund more than 118 million additional SNAP recipients over the remaining 2.5 years of the Trump administration, based on National Priorities Project data.
- Alternatively, nearly 12 million additional people could receive Medicaid.
- Or more than 9.7 million households could gain access to low-cost public housing.
Between the lines: Nationally, the average amount per taxpayer is $2,358, according to the calculator tool.
What they're saying: "I don't think people realize how much money is being spent on these mass deportations," Gordon Lafer, a professor at the University of Oregon's Labor Education and Research Center and research associate at EPI, tells Axios.
- "In almost every place in the country, there a lot of people who are struggling to not be hungry, to have affordable housing, kids are in overcrowded classrooms, people don't have health insurance, and those are the things that matter most."
- "Instead, we're spending an unbelievable amount of money, chasing down, detaining, deporting people," he said, noting that most undocumented people lack criminal records.
The other side: A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson blamed the Biden administration in a statement to Axios for ignoring the costs of illegal immigration and said the administration's self-deportation program saves taxpayers money.
- The spokesperson encouraged undocumented immigrants to use the CBP Home app, saying the U.S. offers a free flight and a $2,600 stipend to self-deport.
- The statement said that brings the cost of a self-deportation to about $5,100, saving taxpayers more than $13,000 per person compared with traditional deportation.
Zoom in: EPI estimated each area's share of federal income taxes to calculate how much taxpayers in each state, county and city would contribute toward deportation spending.
- Areas that contribute a larger share of federal income taxes would shoulder a larger share of the projected cost.
- Florida is contributing an estimated $22.4 billion toward federal deportation and detainment efforts, per the Institute.
Go deeper: Additional funding on the table
2. 🏗️ What's going up
Here's the latest development news around the 305.
A new restaurant from the chef behind New York's Michelin-starred Rezdôra is teaming up with Coral Gables-based Allen Morris Companies for a new restaurant at the developer's Allen Morris Brickell Park, the Real Deal reported.
- The development sits on one of Brickell's last green spaces and has faced pushback from residents and neighbors.
- The approved permit for the proposed 3,000-square-foot restaurant includes an occupancy cap at 132 people, including employees.
City of Miami officials approved a more-than-$240-million, 30-year investment plan into the Allapattah neighborhood.
- The plan includes improvements to infrastructure, building affordable housing and community facilities and launching economic programs, according to the South Florida Business Journal.
Serenity Gardens, an affordable senior housing development in Miami Gardens, broke ground with county officials, including Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, in attendance, per a news release.
- The project, located on city-leased land, is an eight-story senior living community with 153 apartments, a fitness center, swimming pool and surface parking.
- Completion is expected in 2028.
3. Cafecito: 📉 Vote-by-mail numbers decrease
La Latina, the popular neighborhood restaurant known for arepas, closed over the weekend after 15 years. (Instagram)
Miami-Dade County Public Schools reported 270 vacant positions, including 36 teachers, ahead of the new school year. (WLRN)
Haitian-Bahamian Chef Wilkinson "Ken" Sejour, owner of popular Haitian restaurant Chef Creole, told CBS Evening News that he lost his entire management team across all seven locations in South Florida and may have to close two due to the end of TPS. (Miami New Times)
- "He sold to me that he is a businessman and that he will be making business decisions," said Sejour, who regrets his decision to vote for Trump.
4. 🌀 Hurricane season update
It may be a quiet hurricane season, but don't get too comfortable.
State of play: The National Hurricane Center was tracking three systems in the Atlantic as of Monday afternoon.
- The first disturbance, located a few hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, has a 60% chance of becoming a tropical depression or storm in the next seven days, NHC warns.
- The two other systems have only a 10% chance of developing over the next two to seven days.
Yes, but: The storm models indicate that the first system will likely avoid Florida and the Caribbean and head north into the open ocean, according to the Miami Herald.
The big picture: With the peak of hurricane season approaching next month, NOAA says it still predicts a below-normal season with seven to 13 named storms.
What's next: If the first disturbance's maximum sustained winds reach 39 mph, it would be named Cristobal, joining Arthur and Bertha this season.
5. 🎒 Sommer's back to school pic
🤓 I absolutely love school, and I wish I was preparing for my first week.
- To honor that, here's my Pre-K 3 yearbook picture at Westminster Christian School. Everyone says I look exactly the same.
- I was a big PB&J kid (still am) and loved recess and playing outside (still do).
😔 Sommer is so sad about La Latina.
✌️Martin is OOO, enjoying Acadia National Park.
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This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.
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