Punta Gorda council approves memorandum with ICE after wide public opposition

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — The Punta Gorda City Council voted to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 19, allowing Punta Gorda police officers who volunteer for training to assist federal immigration authorities in specific situations.

The MOA drew a large public turnout and sustained comment from residents and advocacy groups, many urging the council to reject the agreement on civil‑liberties and resource‑burden grounds. Multiple speakers said the MOA risked warrantless arrests and racial profiling; other residents and an attorney urged the council to allow trained local officers to support federal enforcement.

The council’s decision followed a staff presentation and a lengthy exchange in which Punta Gorda Police Chief Pam Smith said the agreement would not create federal ‘‘roundups’’ or task‑force raids. ‘‘The word task force makes it sound like we are gonna be joining some other agency and going around other areas out of our local jurisdiction,’’ Smith said, adding the intent presented to her was that officers would, in the normal course of duties, follow up when an administrative immigration…