Immigration enforcement intensifies in a city shaped by Venezuelan families
Plus PortMiami's CEO at a chamber lunch and a new art show at MDC West.
Here’s what changed in Doral this week. We also have two September dates worth putting on the calendar.
Seven in ten Doral residents were born outside the country. About four in ten have Venezuelan roots. Immigration arrests in the city rose from three in December to 16 in March. There were eight in April, seven in May, 12 in June, and 17 in July.
Reported encounters have clustered near Northwest 87th and 107th avenues. Other reports came from Northwest 36th and 41st streets. Councilman Rafael Pineyro, Doral's only Venezuelan-American council member, called the moment tragic.
Doral approved a 287(g) deal with ICE last year. Pineyro said city police have not received the federal training needed to make immigration arrests.
A Doral industrial portfolio sells for $86 million
Midtown Capital paid $86 million for 14 Doral warehouses. Together, they have about 300,000 square feet. The price was about $296 per square foot. The sites line Northwest 54th and 56th streets and Northwest 79th and 82nd avenues.
Most units run from 600 to 2,500 square feet. That size works for many local shops and service firms. Vacancy for small warehouses was near 4%. The rate for larger buildings was about twice as high.
The Waas family owned and ran most of the sites for more than 50 years. This sale ends a long local chapter in one of Doral's core business areas.
Whole Foods-anchored Doral Marketplace changes hands
Doral Marketplace sold for $83 million. The center has 83,365 square feet and was fully leased at the time of sale. Whole Foods is the anchor. Ulta Beauty, Shake Shack, J. Crew, and Warby Parker are also tenants.
SJC Ventures sold the site. The buyer is a family office advised by Lincoln Property Company. Mark Gilbert, Adam Feinstein, and Mitchell Halpern of Cushman & Wakefield worked for the seller.
The tenant lineup is unchanged under the new owner.
The governor's race stopped for lunch in Doral
Republican nominee Byron Donalds and running mate Bryan Avila met Doral supporters on Aug. 29. The Saturday morning stop was at Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine. Donalds now represents a Southwest Florida district that includes Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
The Republican ticket faces Democrats David Jolly and Gwen Graham. Jolly is a lawyer and former member of Congress. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
PortMiami's CEO takes the mic at a chamber lunch
- When
- Wednesday, September 9, 2026 · 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
- Where
- Sonesta Miami Airport
- Address
- 950 NW Le Jeune Road, Miami, FL 33126
- Price
- $55 members; trustee members free; $75 non-members
PortMiami Director and CEO Jonathan Daniels is the guest at the Miami Airport Chamber lunch. The event includes a plated meal and time to meet local business owners and leaders.
The port has a direct link to Doral. Cargo plans shape truck traffic, warehouse demand, and jobs near the airport. Space is limited. Tickets are sold in advance and at the door.
The fall art season opens with water
- When
- Tuesday, September 15, 2026 · 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
- Where
- Miami Dade College West Campus
WATER TRAIL | Rastro de agua opens Doral's fall art season. The show has photos, paintings, and sculpture. The five artists are Julia Zurilla, Emilia Martín Fierro, Zura Lagarde, Samara Ash, and Alexandra de Yavorsky. Curator Félix Suazo built the show around the many meanings of water.
The opening also starts local Hispanic Heritage Month events. MDC West Campus and the Doral International Art Fair are the hosts. The City of Doral and local arts groups helped support it. The public opening runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.