Florida City Council Members Tear Up Over ICE Partnership Vote
Some Fort Myers City Council members became emotional Monday over the vote on a pact between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local police.
The Florida City Council met to discuss an agreement to provide the city’s law enforcement agencies with training and authority to act as ICE agents to detain and arrest illegal immigrants.
During the meeting, council members Darla Bonk and Diana Giraldo became emotional while expressing their opposition to the agreement.
Will $1,400 stimulus checks return in 2025? What you need to know
Bonk’s voice choked when she explained that they could risk losing state and federal funding if they did not agree to it.
“It’s a chaotic day and age. And it’s a day I don’t like sitting in this seat,” Bonk said. “But my city is not for sale.”
Giraldo feared the statement would be used to racially profile Hispanic citizens.
Giraldo said, “As the only immigrant sitting on this council, as an immigrant myself, I cannot stand behind this.”
At one point during his speech, the two grabbed each other’s hands.
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson argued in favor of the statement, stressing that it would not give officers the power to “break down doors” and search illegal immigrants, but only to arrest and process illegal immigrants who have been charged with or convicted of a crime.
The proposal failed to pass on a 3-3 vote with one council member abstaining.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeyer responded to the vote Tuesday with a letter demanding that the city council change its position or face civil or criminal penalties for being a sanctuary city.
“Sanctionary policies are illegal in Florida. What you voted for last night makes you a sanctuary city. Fix this problem or be prepared to face the consequences,” Uthmeyer wrote on the X alongside a copy of his letter.
When contacted for comment, the attorney general’s office directed Fox News Digital to an interview with Fox 4, where Uthmeyer discussed the letter.
Florida City Council Members Tear Up Over ICE Partnership Vote
In the interview, Uthmeyer said that not passing the memo could violate state law, which prohibits “sanctuary policies” that prevent enforcement of federal immigration laws.
He also said that penalties could include removal from office.
“We are considering all options. We have put them on notice, but we are not going to wait much longer. If they do not resolve their problem immediately, we will take action,” Uthmeyer told Fox 4.
However, if the statement has not yet been approved, he did not give a clear timeline for when that would happen.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Anderson said the city has scheduled an emergency meeting on Friday to review the memo and hopes they can come to a clear conclusion.
“This is another tool for our police to keep our city safe. Furthermore, city management is taking proactive steps to reorganize this matter, and I am hopeful that Friday’s meetings will lead to an amicable resolution consistent with federal and state directives,” the mayor added.
Other members of the city council did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by the time of publication.
