Scott Powers
Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo was planning to introduce a panel discussion on immigration Friday in Miami, the week President Donald Trump and two senators unveiled a bill to curb immigration, but it never happened.
Miami New Times, which had published an article Thursday raising allegations about one of the sponsors and its representative on the panel, reported on Friday that the event was canceled, though a notice to potential attendees used the word postponed.
Curbelo’s office did not respond to an email seeking to discuss the event.
New Times updated its article Friday, apparently citing a notice sent Thursday to confirmed attendees that stated, “Due to unforeseen circumstances some of our panelists are confronting with urgent matters, we are unfortunately going to postpone tomorrow’s event. We greatly appreciate your having confirmed, and look forward to finding an alternative date in the near future to revisit this important topic of immigration.”
That might have been a reference to New Times’ report on one of the sponsors, LIBRE by Nexus, a bail bond company that specializes in detained immigrants who are facing deportation. The article, by Jerry Iannelli, charged the company had “been accused of exploiting immigrants,” something the company vigorously denied.
Another of the sponsors is FWD.us, a pro-immigration group founded by the technology industry. FIU is the third sponsor. None of the three sponsors would comment on the panel or its fate.
Curbelo, of Kendall, is in a tough district for a Republican, with a six-point Democratic advantage in voter registration, and a potentially formidable Democratic opponent next year in Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
