The Metropolis of Key West has canceled its settlement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reversing a coverage that allowed native police to help federal brokers in detaining suspected undocumented immigrants.
The transfer got here Monday night time throughout a particular metropolis fee assembly, the place six of the seven commissioners voted to finish the partnership following a wave of public outcry. Group members — together with enterprise house owners, church leaders, and residents — flooded the assembly to voice their considerations.
Police Chief Sean Brandenburg, the ultimate speaker of the night time, defended the coverage, stating that the settlement is now the legislation beneath the Trump administration. Commissioners, nonetheless, disagreed, describing the association as federal overreach.
“We should always not have worry for political retribution as the premise for us as a metropolis figuring out coverage,” mentioned Key West Commissioner Samuel Kaufman.
Commissioner Lissette Carey was the only vote in opposition to terminating the settlement.
Florida Legal professional Normal James Uthmeier rapidly responded by way of social media, warning that the town will quickly be listening to from his workplace.
This isn’t the primary time Uthmeier has weighed in on native immigration enforcement. Simply final month, he despatched a two-page letter to Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony, demanding full cooperation with ICE. The letter was prompted by Tony’s remarks at a June 3 funds workshop, the place he appeared to distance himself from federal immigration duties.
“The patch on our sleeve says Broward County. We’re not ICE, we’re not immigration. I don’t work for the Division of Justice. I don’t work for the president of the US. I work for the folks of this neighborhood,” Tony mentioned on the time.
Again in February, Governor Ron DeSantis had introduced that each one 67 of Florida’s sheriffs had signed a “Activity Drive Mannequin” settlement with ICE, increasing the position of deputies beneath the controversial 287(g) program — a coverage that has more and more come beneath scrutiny from civil rights advocates.
