Miami approves ICE deal to let local police enforce immigration laws
The City of Miami will join a growing list of South Florida municipalities allowing local police officers to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a controversial vote Tuesday by city commissioners.
The 287(g) agreement, a federal program that deputizes local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, will now give Miami police the authority to stop, question, and arrest individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully.
The county already participates in the program, along with a growing list of municipalities including Doral, Coral Gables, Hialeah and Homestead.
Public outcry at commission meeting
The vote came despite widespread opposition from immigrant advocacy groups and concerned residents, who packed the meeting to voice their disapproval.
"If you agree with this deal with ICE, you are putting honest and brave City of Miami police officers in an impossible position," said Miami resident Abel Delgado during public comment. "You are telling them to arrest their neighbors for pursuing the American Dream."
Another resident added, "The behavior of current ICE agents — detaining people without due process and brutalizing some of them — is not in alignment with the rule of law."
Not a single speaker voiced support for the partnership during the meeting.
Political pressure from Tallahassee
A vote against the resolution would have defied the wishes of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has pushed for statewide participation in the 287(g) program.
The governor has asked the legislature to give him the power to suspend law enforcement officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Half of Miami's population is foreign-born, and local activists had warned that the ICE partnership could damage trust between immigrant communities and local police.
With Tuesday's vote, Miami's police department joins a federal initiative that critics say targets vulnerable communities, a move that will likely spark further debate and protest in the weeks ahead.
