Aitana Salmeron | Contributory Writer
YDSA, the Young Democratic Socialists of America, hosted congressional candidate Oliver Larkin, along with other local immigration leaders, at Biscayne Bay Campus. On Thursday, July 9, Larkin spoke about his campaign and key issues, accompanied by other guest speakers.
Larkin, a democratic socialist, is running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Florida’s 25th Congressional District. His platform focuses on expanding healthcare access, abolishing ICE, and protecting civil rights.
“The Constitution does apply to everyone in the United States. We all have the right to due process, have civil liberties that are protected, regardless of whether or not you have citizenship,” Larkin said. “If you are a resident on United States soil, you are protected.”
Larkin emphasized on systems that need to be changed, beginning with the abolition and prosecution of ICE. He mentioned private prison groups such as the GEO Group, which he said operates ICE operations in Pompano Beach and the Miramar Enforcement Removal Operations Facility.
“Because we have seen ranked violations of our civil and constitutional rights,” Larkin said. “A violation of all of our civil rights because if immigrants are able to be subjected to this, what comes next for the political dissidents?”
Alongside Larkin and the other immigration leaders, YDSA brought three of the seven students who were charged for silently protesting on March 13th during an event featuring FIU President Jeanette Nunez and former Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez. Members Reinier Luna, Andrew Caro, and Caleb Dean spoke about their experience.
“We did this in response to our university signing the 287G agreement,” said Caro. “I, myself, as a proud Mexican American, am horrified and deeply saddened to hear that my Latino community is being hunted like animals.”
Dean shared similar words. “We were well within our constitutional rights and we are being unjustly condemned for voicing a concern that many people in this country view as a threat to their security,” he said.
Luna joined his fellow members in agreement but turned to a hopeful outlook.
“The student charges put against us was an attempt to silence the FIU student body, but all it has done is confirmed what we already knew,” he said. “That the community is on our side, and because of that, we’ve already won.”
Renata Bozzetto, who works at FLIC, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, came to speak but not to represent the organization. Bozzetto spoke to the audience about her views on the ongoing situation with immigration and also thanked Luna, Caro, and Dean for their bravery.
“I thank you for standing up and fighting for all of us when you do so, and you got our back, and we got your back,” Bozzetto said. “Because the reality is, we cannot allow at a single moment that they silence us, especially when we do so in a peaceful manner.”
Afterwards, other immigration leader William Botsch, better known as Billy, came in to speak. Botsch works on a project called Miramar Circle of Protection.
“It provides mutual aid and support outside of the Miramar ICE Field Office, where people who are under orders of supervision are required to check in on a regular basis with ICE,” Botsch said.
Botsch spoke about the hot conditions both him and the people that line up for the office endure, saying it had been a difficult week.
“We continue to be there every Wednesday and encourage anyone who wants to come to do that,” Botsch said.
Larkin thanked the speakers and the students for being there.
“I really appreciate all of our speakers for your courage and coming forward,” Larkin said. “Especially the students for doing what you’ve done to stand up to the campus administration to speak out for the humanity and values that we share.”
When it came to choosing why FIU was the place to have the town hall meeting, Larkin said it was about sending a message and a couple of other things.
“I was so moved by Andrew, Caleb, and Reinier’s remarks,” Larkin said. “This was a message for the FIU campus community, for the student body, that there are people out there seeking public office that support you and agree with your cause.”
It was not only a message to the students at FIU, but to the campus administration too.
“We cannot have a politicized state university system where public universities are the tools of political creatures to leverage and wield for influence,” Larkin added.
Larkin also viewed it as South Florida as a whole. “South Florida is proudly an immigrant community. And I am just so grateful to the students here that have shown up, that have been seeking out for themselves, for the neighbors, for the other student body members,” he said.
Because Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Democrats may vote for Oliver Larkin. The deadline to register or change party affiliation is July 20th, 2026. For mail in voting, apply by August 6th, 2026. The in-person voting date depends on the county: Miami-Dade, August 3-16. Broward and Palm Beach, August 8-16. Democratic primary election day is August 18th, 2026.
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