Some Fort Myers Metropolis Council members have been in tears Monday over a vote on a memorandum of settlement between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and native police.
The Florida metropolis council met to debate the settlement for metropolis regulation enforcement to obtain the coaching and authority to behave as ICE brokers to detain and arrest unlawful immigrants, amongst different features.
Through the assembly, council members Darla Bonk and Diana Giraldo teared up as they voiced their opposition to the settlement.
Bonk’s voice broke as she described the chance of shedding state and federal funds if she refused to agree.
“It is a tumultuous day and age. And this is a day I hate to be in this seat,” Bonk stated. “But my city is not for sale.”
Fort Myers Metropolis Council members Darla Bonk and Diana Giraldo grasp fingers throughout a gathering on Monday. (Fort Myers Metropolis web site)
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Giraldo feared the memorandum can be used to racially profile Hispanic residents.
“I can’t stand behind this as an immigrant, the only immigrant sitting in this council,” Giraldo stated.
The 2 grasped fingers at one level of their remarks.
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson argued in favor of the memorandum, emphasizing that it might not give officers the authority to exit looking for unlawful immigrants “kicking in doors,” however merely the flexibility to arrest and course of unlawful immigrants who had been charged or convicted of a criminal offense.
The movement didn’t cross on a 3-3 vote with one council member not in attendance.
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson argued the memorandum wouldn’t give native officers the flexibility to trace down all unlawful immigrants however to go after and detain ones with felony fees or convictions. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures)
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded to the vote on Tuesday with a letter demanding the city council change its position or risk civil or criminal penalties for being a sanctuary city.
“Sanctuary policies are illegal in Florida. Your vote last night makes you a sanctuary city. Fix this problem or face the consequences,” Uthmeier wrote on X, along with a copy of his letter.
When reached for comment, the Office of the Attorney General pointed Fox News Digital to an interview with FOX 4 where Uthmeier discussed the letter.
In the interview, Uthmeier said that not passing the memorandum could violate the state’s regulation prohibiting “sanctuary policies” that forestall the enforcement of federal immigration legal guidelines.
He added that penalties may embrace removing from workplace.
“We’re looking at all options. We put them on notice, but we’re not going to wait long. If they don’t immediately correct their problem, then we will take action,” Uthmeier stated to FOX 4.
Nonetheless, he didn’t give a transparent timeline of when that would happen if the memorandum nonetheless wasn’t handed.
Florida state regulation prohibits “sanctuary city” insurance policies that inhibit federal regulation enforcement of immigration insurance policies. (Fox Information)
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In an announcement to Fox Information Digital, Anderson stated town has scheduled an emergency assembly on Friday to revisit the memorandum and hopefully come to a clearer conclusion.
“This is another tool for our police to keep our city safe. With that, City Management has been taking proactive steps to readdress the matter, and I hope Friday’s meeting leads to an amenable resolve with federal and state directives,” the mayor stated.
The opposite members of town council didn’t reply to requests for remark from Fox Information Digital in time for publication.
