Immigrant-rights groups press Tallahassee leaders to end 287(g) partnership; commission debates next steps

Dozens of residents, faith leaders, students, immigrants and civil-rights advocates used the March 26 public-comment period to protest a 287(g) agreement that extends Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities to local officers.

Speakers said the agreement will chill community cooperation with police, harm immigrant families and increase the risk of racial profiling. "By allowing TPD to work alongside ICE, you are scaring thousands of beloved residents in our community," said Jordan Scott of the Northwest Florida Federation of Labor. Multiple speakers asked the commission to terminate the agreement.

Chief of Police described the city’s adopted approach as narrow and limited: the department will train a single officer (40 hours of required training under the program) to support identification and processing of violent felony offenders encountered during routine enforcement operations, he said. The chief and city staff said the department does not plan to launch broad sweeps, to question immigration status at routine public events, or to perform school or church raids.

Commission discussion focused on legal obligation, transparency and risk. Commissioners asked whether the law requires a municipality to enter a 287(g) agreement. The city attorney said the statute’s language and the governor’s executive guidance create significant state pressure and that interpretation is evolving; she said it is not yet settled in court whether cities are compelled to sign. Commissioners voted on motions to (a) direct the city attorney to seek a declaratory judgment in court on whether the city is legally required to enter a 287(g) agreement (motion failed 3–2), and (b) request that a follow-up information item come back at the next meeting with an explanation of what a recent South Miami legal action did on the question (the commission directed staff to return with that background).

Community groups told the commission they will continue to press the city to rescind the agreement and to restore community trust. Legal observers and civil-rights attorneys present at the meeting offered to provide counsel and document examples of alleged profiling patterns from other jurisdictions.

Why it matters: 287(g) agreements deputize local officers to help ICE identify and hold certain noncitizens for federal immigration processes. Civil-rights advocates say the agreements increase mistrust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement and may produce civil-rights litigation; police leaders say focused agreements targeting violent offenders can aid public safety. The city is now publicly debating whether it must participate and how to proceed.

What’s next: Commissioners asked staff for a background report on an active South Miami court action that challenged state/local 287(g) requirements. Staff will return to the commission with that analysis and other legal options for next steps.