The pressure on the Doral government to end its collaboration agreement with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increased this Tuesday when former lawmakers, community leaders, and the mayor of South Miami gathered to demand that the city withdraw from the federal 287(g) program.
According to reported by CBS News Miami, the participants rejected the Doral authorities' argument that the city had no alternative but to enter into the agreement, which grants local police departments certain collaborative functions in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
The raised issue specifically focuses on the 287(g) agreement of the Doral Police with ICE, and while breaking that agreement would not prevent federal agents from conducting their own immigration operations in the city, it would indeed end the local participation outlined under that mechanism.
One of the points raised during the meeting was the case of South Miami, which did not sign the 287(g) agreement. Its mayor, Javier Fernández, stated that the city has not faced repercussions for that decision.
Among those who participated was former federal representative Joe García, who launched a strong criticism of the decision made by Doral: "They could have chosen to be compassionate and they chose to be cruel," he stated.
The former congressman also questioned how local leaders are now trying to distance themselves from the consequences of the immigration policy implemented in the city.
The controversy arises at a time when residents continue to report on social media the presence and operations of ICE agents in various locations in Doral, a city where approximately 70% of the population was born outside the United States.
The mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga, has insisted that the municipal government does not have the authority to prevent ICE from enforcing federal law within the city.
However, the debate also takes place amid a growing economic and social impact attributed to the fear caused by the operations.
Businesses in Doral have reported significant drops in sales, while employees and residents are avoiding leaving their homes for fear of encountering immigration agents.
One of the most notable cases is that of a restaurant that claimed to have experienced a 70% drop in sales. Other establishments have reported losses of workers, including employees with work permits and ongoing immigration processes.
Fraga has publicly acknowledged that there is "a lot of fear" among parts of the community, although he has pointed out that the Doral Police do not lead federal raids and that the city also does not receive prior notice about when and where ICE will conduct its operations.
Concern about the consequences of the detentions has also led to private initiatives for assistance.
This week, for example, activist Carlos Eduardo Espina donated $50,000 to create an emergency fund for families in Doral who have lost their primary economic support due to an ICE detention or deportation.
The fund, managed by LULAC, offers up to $1,000 per household to cover basic needs such as rent, food, utilities, and childcare.
El acuerdo 287(g) de Doral con ICE es solo uno de los muchos frentes del debate migratorio en Estados Unidos. Sigue toda la actualidad sobre políticas, deportaciones y derechos en nuestra sección de
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