Despite fervent opposition from community members and emotional public commentary, Miami commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to approve an immigration enforcement agreement with the federal government, known as 287(g).
The decision allows Miami police officers to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents within city limits.
City Hall was packed with an overflow crowd, many holding signs and imploring commissioners to reject the proposal. Public speakers were given two minutes each to voice their concerns, painting a vivid picture of the community’s apprehension.
Abel S. Delgado, president of the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus, addressed the commission, stating, “If you agree with this deal with ICE, you are putting honest and brave city of Miami police officers in an impossible position. You are telling them to arrest our neighbors for pursuing the American dream.”
The 287(g) program empowers ICE to delegate specific immigration officer duties, enhancing collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners for the arrest and removal of undocumented immigrants. This proposed agreement is directly linked to Florida’s immigration law, which took effect last year after being signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. The agreement will allow Miami officers to question, arrest, and detain individuals suspected of violating immigration law.
Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales expressed concerns about potential political fallout related to the agreement. “There’s a very strong inference that if we do not enter into this agreement, there would certainly be some sort of repercussion,” he told commissioners.
The commission’s vote revealed a clear divide. Commissioners Joe Carollo, Miguel Angel Gabela, and Ralph “Rafael” Rosado voted in favor of the agreement, while Commissioners Christine King and Damian Pardo voted against it. Commissioner Pardo voiced his strong opposition, stating, “It is the climate that this legislation proposes, that is toxic for the City of Miami, because the climate we are looking at is one of fear and repression and not welcoming.”
Dariel Gomez, an organizer from ACLU Florida, highlighted the unique demographic makeup of the city, emphasizing the potential for racial profiling. “Miami is a city with 55 percent of its population being immigrants. A lot of us look like immigrants. So there really is a very real fear that this will lead to racial profiling and the false arrests of U.S. citizens that may look like immigrants,” Gomez said.
Supporters of the measure argue that it will promote law and order and encourage legal pathways to citizenship.
The Miami Police Department now faces the task of ironing out the operational details before implementation. Officers will be required to undergo ICE training to be authorized to act as immigration agents.
Miami is not the first city in South Florida to adopt such a measure. Doral and Coral Gables have also recently partnered with ICE to crack down on undocumented immigration. Other Florida cities, including Hialeah and Sweetwater, have similarly aligned with ICE under the 287(g) framework.
According to the Governor’s office, Florida remains deeply involved in the program, with all 67 counties, including Broward and Miami-Dade, currently having agreements in place with ICE.
