The city of Key West, in Monroe County, in the Florida Keys, reversed its decision to cut ties with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and voted to rejoin the federal 287(g) program, just a week after having canceled it.
The change occurred following strong pressures from Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who warned about potential legal consequences and threatened to remove the commissioners if they did not reinstate the agreement.
An initial rejection with strong support
At the beginning of July, the Key West Commission voted to cancel its collaboration agreement with ICE, with six votes in favor and one against.
This stance represented a break from the 287(g) program, a federal agreement that empowers local police to act as immigration agents, including the authority to question, detain, and arrest individuals for alleged violations of immigration laws.
The commissioners expressed their concern at that time about the social impact of the program on the local migrant community, fearing that its implementation would foster a "climate of fear" and distrust towards the authorities.
The state's response: Warnings and threats
The reaction from Tallahassee was not long in coming.
Attorney General James Uthmeier accused the city of violating Section 908.103 of the Florida Statutes, which prohibits so-called "sanctuary cities" and requires local entities to cooperate with the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
“I hope Key West chooses the easy path and not the hard one,” Uthmeier warned on his X account, anticipating a legal response.
On July 2, he sent a letter to the city commission with an even clearer warning: rejoin the program or face dismissal.
In the words of the prosecutor, "municipalities that do not enter into these agreements could violate Florida law."
The Reversal: State Pressure and Divided Voting
Under increasing legal and political pressure, the Key West Commission held a new session on Tuesday night, during which it reversed its previous decision with four votes in favor and two against.
The approved resolution states that the city was at risk of sanctions if it continued to reject the program, and it justifies the collaboration as a measure to comply with state law and "ensure the safety of its residents."
The vote took place in an atmosphere of tension, with boos from the audience present, reflecting the division the measure creates in the community.
After the result, Uthmeier publicly celebrated: “Great news to see that Key West heeded our warning and resumed its participation in the ICE 287(g) program!”
What is the 287(g) program?
The 287(g) program was established in 1996 and allows local and state agencies to enter into agreements with ICE to assume functions typically performed by that federal agency. Through memoranda of understanding, ICE trains local police to:
-Interrogate detained individuals and determine their immigration status.
- Issue immigration detention orders.
- Collaborate in the custody and delivery of individuals to federal authorities.
-Undertake tasks related to the deportation of immigrants with criminal records.
This model of cooperation was extensively promoted during Donald Trump's presidency and has been criticized by human rights organizations, which view it as a tool for the criminalization of migrant communities.
Florida and the Strict Immigration Policy
Florida is currently the only state in the United States where all 67 counties have signed 287(g) agreements.
Governor Ron DeSantis' administration has established a tough immigration policy, legally targeting cities that attempt to limit their cooperation with ICE.
Municipalities such as Miami, Hialeah, Doral, and others have already formalized their membership.
In the case of Miami, the agreement was recently approved with majority support in the commission, despite opposition from some officials.
Commissioner Damián Pardo, one of the dissenting votes, described the program as "toxic for the immigrant community" and warned that its implementation will create repression and fear among individuals still in the process of regularization.
A the same time, the chief of the Miami police, Manny Morales, tried to clarify the scope of the agreement by assuring that immigrants will not be actively pursued, but rather that they will limit their cooperation to specific cases.
Security and legal compliance arguments
The resolution approved by Key West states that the return to the 287(g) program is in the "best interest of the city to comply with state and federal laws."
It is also argued that some of the recent arrests in the Florida Keys involve undocumented immigrants accused of serious crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, or drug trafficking.
For the proponents of the agreement, this collaboration is essential to ensure public safety and avoid sanctions against the local government.
The local community has reacted with disappointment and concern. Various organizations advocating for migrant rights have denounced the change in stance of the commissioners as a capitulation to state intimidation.
During the public session, many residents expressed their discomfort with the possibility that local agents could become extensions of the federal immigration apparatus.
Activists fear that this will break the trust between the community and local authorities, which could lead to a decrease in the reporting of crimes or abuses due to fear of immigration repercussions.
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