The Key West Post

ICE remains active in Key West and deportations of illegal immigrants has remained steady, especially when the Key West City Commission unanimously voted to support 287g agreements with ICE. Key West joined all of the other 66 counties in Florida which have similar agreements with ICE. Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from various countries is being revoked by the Trump Administration, citing stabilization in native countries. Some countries had TPS for natural di

Key West February 2026 Newsfeed: Breaking news from the Florida Keys.

A new Florida law restricting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives will cut off Monroe County funding for several long‑running LGBTQ+ events in Key West beginning in January 2027. The Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) announced the changes this week, warning that events historically supported through tourism grants will no longer qualify. Going forward, events will succeed or fail based on ticket sales. The consumer ultimately decides what to suppor

I’ve lived in Key West my entire life as a Cuban‑American, and in recent months I’ve noticed a wave of political activism on the island that often overlooks the lived experiences of the Cuban community. It has become common to see people wearing Che Guevara t‑shirts or ordering a “con leche”—a phrase that isn’t even the correct term for café con leche—as if these gestures alone reflect an understanding of Latino culture or Cuban politics. These displays are not cultural appre

Guest Writer: HARC Rainbow Fence Violations in Key West Historic District-The following letter was presented during public comment by Dr. Penny Walker at the HARC meeting on January 27, 2026.

Try to make sense of Key West politics today and you’ll run straight into cognitive dissonance. Beliefs, values, and actions don’t line up the way they used to. There was a time when people argued about politics, then went fishing together or grabbed a café con leche. Those days feel long gone. The island now looks like its own “tale of two cities,” with neighbors living side‑by‑side but seeing the world in completely different ways. Long‑time residents, fresh‑water Conchs, a

The Fentanyl Crisis in Key West: Fentanyl is a uniquely deadly drug — made with chemicals sourced in China, produced in Mexico and smuggled across what used to be Biden’s open border. It is the ugliest and deadly consequence of illegal immigration. Even a tiny amount can kill. This deadly drug reached Key West by at least 2023. Since then, the island has seen near-fatal overdoses, high-profile arrests and a months-long, multi-agency crackdown aimed at stopping shipments and

Guest Faith Writer: God Remembers You-I tend to forget things: passwords, phone numbers, certain experiences from youth and people I haven’t seen in years. But I don’t forget those things or people that marked me or made a strong impression on me.

City of Key West HARC Enforcement is Selective: The rainbow fence controversy now facing Key West did not appear out of nowhere. It emerged at a moment when public trust in local government was already strained. Scrutiny of City Hall was unusually intense already. Now, there is conflict again over why the City of Key West is selectively enforcing their own HARC guidelines.

Opinion: The Illegal Immigration Scam-If the people shouting the loudest truly cared about immigrants—or about their neighbors—they would support an orderly, legal immigration system that protects everyone. Immigrants should not be exploited, and U.S. citizens should not be put at risk. What unfolded in Key West exposed something far uglier: a two-faced political performance that preached compassion while quietly profiting from lawlessness. That hypocrisy came into full view

Former Planning Director Katie Halloran Complaint and Final Report Findings: On November 13, 2025, attorney Ria Chattergoon of RC Law Group in Hollywood, Florida released a public investigation report commissioned by the City of Key West. The report examined allegations made by former Planning Director Katie Halloran, who resigned on September 1, 2025 after claiming she faced a hostile work environment under City Manager Brian Barroso.

Food Pantries & Outrage Politics in Key West: If you received e‑mails asking for campaign donations after false accusations that commissioners refused to help food pantries, that was no accident—it was part of a calculated plan. The tactic is familiar: first, say something outrageous to get voters angry. Then, climb on the soapbox and beat down the strawman you created. The goal is to demonize your opponent so you look better.