Fort Myers City Council Members shed tears on Monday after a memorandum of agreement between us Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local police.
Florida City Council meets to discuss protocol To give city law enforcement training and authority to serve as ice division agents, to detain and arrest illegal immigrants, among others.
During the meeting, Council members Darla Bonk and Diana Giraldo Teared When they express opposition to the agreement.
Bonk’s voice burst out as she described the risk of losing state and federal funds if she refused to agree.
“It’s been a turbulent time. It’s a day I hate sitting in this seat,” Bunker said. “But my city doesn’t sell.”
Fort Myers City Council members Darla Bonk and Diana Giraldo grabbed their hands at a meeting Monday. (Fort Myers website)
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Giraldo is concerned that the memorandum will be used to racially discriminate against Hispanic citizens.
“I can’t stand this as an immigrant, the only immigrant sitting on the council,” Girardo said.
The two of them held a hand while talking.
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson argued the memorandum stressed that it would not give officials the power to go out and find illegal immigrants to “kick the door” but merely the ability to arrest and deal with illegal immigrants who are accused or committed crimes.
The motion failed to meet a 3-to-3 vote that a member of the council did not participate.
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson argued that the memorandum would not allow local officials to track all illegal immigrants, but would follow and be detained on criminal charges or convictions. (Christopher Diltes/Bloomberg by Getty Image)
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded to the vote Tuesday, asking the city council to change its position or risk civil or criminal penalties for becoming a sheltered city.
“Asia policy is illegal in Florida. Last night’s vote made you a sanctuary city. There may be consequences for this problem,” Uthmeier wrote on X.
When commented, the Attorney General’s Office conducted an interview with Fox News Digital Digital Fox 4 Uthmeier discussed the letter.
In the interview, Uthmeier said that it is okay to not pass the memo Violating national laws Prohibit the “protection policy” to prevent the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
He added that the punishment could include dismissal.
Usmeer told Fox 4: “We are looking at all the options. We’re going to get them attention, but we won’t wait long. If they don’t correct the problem immediately, then we’ll take action.”
However, he has no clear timetable, i.e. when the memorandum can be carried out if it remains unpassed.
Florida law prohibits “sanitation city” policies to curb federal law enforcement immigration policies. (Fox News)
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Anderson said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the city has scheduled to revisit the memorandum at an emergency meeting on Friday and hopes to draw a clearer conclusion.
“This is another tool for our police to ensure that our city is safe. It is an active step that the city management is taking to read this and I hope Friday’s meeting will achieve a considerable determination with federal and state directives,” the mayor said.
Other members of the city council did not respond Fox News Numbers Timely publish.
