The first attempt in Doral to review the collaboration between local police and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after the midterm elections encountered an administrative obstacle that prevented the proposal from moving forward to the next session of the City Council, as reported by Univisión.
The councilor Maureen Porras submitted a request to discuss the review or cancellation of agreement 287(g), which allows for collaboration between local law enforcement officers and federal immigration authorities.
However, the municipal lawyer Lorenzo Cobiella rejected including the matter on the agenda for November 18.
The decision was justified by claiming that the proposal had not been submitted with the required 14 days' notice for matters with potential tax implications.
Porras questioned that interpretation and argued that he met the seven-day deadline established in the municipal Organic Charter to request the inclusion of topics on the agenda.
The controversy revolves around what deadline should be applied to the initiative.
For now, the difference in opinions has prevented the Municipal Council from formally discussing the continuation of the agreement with ICE.
The Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) described the blockade as illegal and accused municipal officials of preventing a public discussion on a policy that affects many immigrant residents.
"It's outrageous that officials in Doral use bureaucratic technicalities to prevent an elected council member from even presenting this issue for public discussion," declared Thomas Kennedy, spokesperson for the organization.
FLIC also warned about the effects that, in its view, these agreements have on immigrant communities, including the fear of family separation, racial profiling practices, and the loss of trust in local law enforcement.
"For immigrant families in Doral, these agreements raise concerns about racial profiling practices, family separation, loss of trust in local law enforcement, and the fear that may lead residents to avoid seeking help from the police or accessing other public services," Kennedy noted.
Porras also expressed his disagreement with the municipal decision: “The matter was rejected by the City Attorney, Lorenzo Cobiella, and I disagree with the basis of that decision.”
The councilwoman insisted that residents deserve the opportunity for their representatives to publicly discuss police collaboration with ICE.
An electoral victory by just 12 votes
The attempt to review the agreement comes after particularly hard-fought elections in Doral, where Porras managed to retain his seat by a narrow margin.
The manual recount for seat 2, completed on November 7, confirmed 9,596 votes for Porras compared to 9,584 for her opponent Fernanda Gomes, a difference of just 12 votes, according to the results reported by Miami-Dade Elections Supervisor, Alina García.
The councilor linked the outcome to the dissatisfaction of some voters regarding immigration operations.
"We saw a lot of voters who expressed their frustrations on the ballot, and they are indeed justified. We have endured a significant blow with all the activity from ICE, and I don’t blame them," he stated to the media.
The agreement with ICE and state pressure
Doral approved its participation in the federal 287(g) program in April 2025, which allows certain local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with ICE in specific immigration enforcement functions.
The Cuban-American mayor Christi Fraga acknowledged in September that the city's adherence was influenced by pressures from Governor Ron DeSantis and state authorities, who had warned of possible consequences for officials who resisted cooperation.
However, Sam Lester from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida argues that Doral can voluntarily withdraw from the agreement and that the governor lacks the authority to remove municipal officials for making that decision.
These positions reflect the differences regarding the margin of autonomy of local governments in relation to state demands for migration cooperation.
Concern among merchants and immigrants
The migration operations have also raised concerns among merchants and residents of Doral, a city with a significant immigrant population.
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of South Florida has estimated sales declines of between 40% and 45% in businesses in the area. Some establishments have reported even greater losses, in a situation marked by the fear of the population to leave their homes.
Among the immigrants closely following the debate are the Cubans with I-220A documents, whose immigration status may create uncertainty in potential encounters with federal authorities.
A potential cancellation of the 287(g) agreement would not prevent ICE from continuing federal operations in Doral, although it would modify the framework of collaboration for municipal police under that program.
For now, Porras' proposal is not on the agenda for November 18. If he gains the necessary support from other council members, the matter could be brought up again in December.
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