The Cuban-American mayor of Doral, Christi Fraga, confirmed that crime in the city has decreased by 60% over the past four years, but acknowledged that immigration policies and the fear of operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are deeply affecting its residents and the local economy.
During his annual State of the City address, held on Thursday at the Doral City Hall, Fraga highlighted the achievements of his administration in terms of safety, while also addressing the uncertainty faced by many immigrant families, according to local channel WSVN 7News.
"General crime has decreased by 60%," asserted the mayor while presenting a report on the progress she attributes to her administration over the past four years.
Fraga also highlighted other municipal initiatives and community involvement in humanitarian assistance activities. However, his speech also addressed the consequences of federal immigration policy in a city with a significant population of Venezuelan and Cuban origin.
"Many of our neighbors are suffering right now," acknowledged the mayor.
The official acknowledged that the immigration measures, including the restrictions and revocations of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) affecting many immigrants, have caused uncertainty among residents and difficulties for businesses.
"Families are living with uncertainty and businesses are feeling its impact," he noted.
The situation described by Fraga contrasts with the positive security report he presented to the attendees. Although he claims that Doral is a safer city in terms of crime, residents and business owners report that the fear of immigration arrests is altering their daily activities.
Some residents have stopped attending medical appointments for fear of encountering federal agents, while certain families prefer to keep their children out of schools. Businesses are also seeing fewer customers and facing challenges in retaining employees.
Liz Rebecca Alarcón, a resident of Doral, described the atmosphere she perceives in the city: “I have never seen the city so desolate, so empty, and the residents so scared.”
Amidst this concern, Fraga addressed the limitations of municipal competencies in relation to state and federal decisions.
"I cannot pretend that the city controls all the laws, all the policies, or all the decisions that affect our residents. That's simply not the case," he stated.
And he added, "But leadership requires us to listen, care, and responsibly defend" the interests of the community.
One of the main points of controversy is the 287(g) agreement that the municipal government maintains with ICE, a mechanism that allows certain local law enforcement officers to perform specific immigration functions under federal supervision, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
Fraga insisted that the Doral Police do not participate in immigration operations. Police Chief Matthew Castillo also stated that his officers do not carry out immigration law enforcement duties.
However, the mayor did not announce the cancellation of agreement 287(g) during her speech. The city maintains the agreement, despite concerns raised by residents and immigrant advocacy organizations.
Sam Lester, a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida, questioned the collaboration between local authorities and federal immigration agencies.
"People in Doral need a police force they can trust, not roaming immigration patrols," he stated.
The speech thus presented two realities: a reduction in crime that the mayor highlights as one of the key achievements of her administration, and an immigrant community that, as acknowledged by its own authorities, faces uncertainty and economic challenges.
The impact of migration operations had already been reflected this week in the data released by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of South Florida, which warned that sales for certain businesses have dropped by between 40% and 45% in areas such as Doral, Miami, and Homestead.
The organization attributed these losses to the fear generated by migration enforcement operations, which has reduced the presence of customers and workers in numerous establishments.
Its president, Liliam López, explained that restaurants, hotels, and companies in other sectors are facing difficulties because part of their clientele is avoiding going out, and some employees are fearful of going to their workplaces.
Concern prompted around 200 business and community leaders to support a petition addressed to President Donald Trump and Congress, seeking measures to mitigate the economic consequences of immigration operations.
The continuation of the 287(g) agreement has also sparked protests in Doral. In recent weeks, activists from ACLU Florida and the Florida Immigrant Coalition have demanded that Fraga terminate the agreement with ICE.
In one of the demonstrations in front of the City Hall, participants delivered about 170 signatures from residents requesting that the city abandon the immigration collaboration program.
Activists question why state legislation specifically obliges a city like Doral to maintain that agreement. They argue that the provisions applicable to certain correctional authorities should not be interpreted as a general obligation for all municipal police departments.
The controversy gained more significance after the mayor herself publicly acknowledged that the signing of the agreement was influenced by pressure from state authorities.
In September, Fraga stated that she signed the agreement under threats of possible sanctions from Governor Ron DeSantis and the Attorney General of Florida.
As he explained then, the warnings included the possibility of dismissing municipal officials and revoking credentials from police departments that did not comply with state requirements.
Fraga also stated that the Doral Police had not received the necessary training to participate in the immigration functions outlined in the agreement and that they had requested an official determination from the attorney general before deciding on the next steps.
Despite pressure from activists and the recognition of the fear among residents, Doral remains linked to the 287(g) program.
Municipal authorities assert that their agents do not participate in immigration operations, while civil organizations continue to demand an end to the agreement.
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