Keys Fisheries Threatened by ICE Raids and Tarriff War

Spanish-centric news site looks at plight threatening commercial fisherman in the Florida Keys.

Marathon commercial fisherman Ryan Irwin says his family may not make it through season thanks to the uncertainty of tariffs, ICE raids and other pressures. / ELPAIS.COM

From El Pais: This is a very interesting story about how ICE raids and the uncertainty of tariffs are threatening the lifeblood of commercial fishing in the Florida Keys.

Immigration crackdowns and trade uncertainty are threatening the future of commercial fishing in the Florida Keys. Local fishermen say Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been detaining crew members indiscriminately — even those working legally on visas — with the explanation that “we arrest everybody and they can fight it if they want to.”

At the same time, possible tariffs on seafood exports pose another major risk. For the past decade, much of the Keys’ lobster catch has been sent to China, where it brings far higher prices than in the U.S.

But aggressive enforcement, looming trade barriers, and rising housing and real estate costs tied to gentrification are squeezing an industry already under pressure.