Upper Keys Protest Demands Answers After Forceful Immigration Stop
Hundreds of residents gathered in Islamorada on December 4 to protest the detainment of a woman who was pulled from her car by federal agents in Key Largo, raising questions about use of force and transparency from federal agencies. The incident has prompted calls for local and federal elected officials to seek accountability and consider the broader impact on Monroe County communities and businesses.
Protesters assembled outside the Islamorada Public Library Branch on December 4, pressing for explanations after federal agents detained a woman in front of the Pink Plaza at Mile Marker 103.4 earlier that morning. Cellphone video captured by reporter David Goodhue shows officers, many with faces covered, pulling the woman from a Toyota Corolla and detaining her as onlookers recorded the encounter. Demonstrators marched to a satellite office of U.S. Senator Ashley Moody to deliver demands for answers and accountability.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deployed deputies to help direct traffic and keep the peace during both the stop and the protest. Federal agencies had not issued public statements at the time of reporting, and demonstrators said they want local and federal elected officials to press Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security for clarity on the reasons for the stop and the apparent use of force. "It is outrageous," said protester Dr. Susana May. "This is not the America that we grew up in," said another participant. Goodhue described the scene captured on video. "I think they're asking her for her ID. Didn't appear like she had her identification on her, and then, after a while, things got rough, as you can see."
Local leaders and small business owners in Monroe County are watching closely, because the county economy relies heavily on tourism and seasonal labor. Incidents of aggressive enforcement in public spaces can affect perceptions of safety, labor availability for hospitality and construction sectors and the willingness of visitors to return. Organizers argued that transparency from federal agencies is necessary not only for civil rights concerns, but also to preserve the community trust that underpins local commerce and public safety.
Protesters said they will continue to press officials for a public accounting and policy changes to prevent similar encounters. Reporters continue to seek comment from ICE, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security as the community awaits answers.
