By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that the Republican Party of Florida removed a line of deportation-themed merchandise, including shirts and hats, from its website on Saturday, August 16, 2025, after The Home Depot objected to the use of its branding. The merchandise, branded as “The Deport Depot,” was branded to promote a new immigrant detention center that Governor Ron DeSantis referred to as the “Deportation Depot.” The items featured a logo with the same orange color and stenciled fonts as The Home Depot’s, which the company stated it did not authorize.
Home Depot spokesperson Beth Marlowe confirmed that the company had not approved the Republican Party of Florida’s use of its logo or branding and said the company had reached out to the Florida Republican Party to resolve the issue. Despite initial confidence from Florida GOP chairperson Evan Power that the merchandise was legally protected under parody law, the items were removed from the party’s website and social media posts about them were taken down shortly after media coverage of the controversy.
The merchandise, priced between $15 and $28, was marketed as a political fundraising effort tied to the state’s immigration enforcement initiatives. This is not the first time the Florida GOP has released themed merchandise related to immigration; a similar line was previously created for the “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Everglades. As of Sunday, August 17, 2025, the “Deport Depot” items were no longer available, though merchandise for “Alligator Alcatraz” remained on sale.