Doral council approves resolution to pursue memorandum of understanding with ICE after extended debate on state "sanctuary" law

On April 16, 2025, the City Council of Doral, Florida, voted to authorize the city manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso made the motion to approve and Councilman Rafael Pinedo seconded; the motion passed on a recorded roll call, with Mayor Kristy Fraga, Vice Mayor Maureen Porras, Councilwoman Nina Cabral, Councilman Rafael Pinedo and Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso voting yes.

The council opened an extended discussion after Councilwoman Cabral pulled the item for questions from residents. The City Attorney told council members the item was brought forward because the Florida Attorney General’s office has taken the position that local governments that adopt policies impeding cooperation with federal immigration authorities may violate state law (referred to in the meeting as the “Sanctuary City Law” and cited in the discussion as statute 908102). The City Attorney said attorney-general opinions are “not necessarily binding, but they are persuasive,” and described them as a factor many local governments follow.

Chief of Police addressed the council and residents about the department’s role if the city moves toward an agreement. “Our officers are not currently trained or equipped, nor is it our mission to enforce immigration laws in our community,” the Chief said, while noting the department will follow lawful directives and participate in required trainings if the law or an agreement requires it. The Chief said he had not met with ICE supervisory staff before the meeting and described the MOU process as “in the infancy stages.”

Councilmembers and the mayor discussed safeguards built into the resolution. The version before the council included language instructing that any agreement be executed "to fulfill the city's obligations under Florida law without exceeding budgeted funds" and that operational assistance be limited "to the extent necessary to comply with Florida law." Vice Mayor Porras and several councilmembers said they supported the direction as a way to keep the department compliant with state authority while emphasizing protections for community trust and civil rights.

Councilwoman Cabral repeatedly asked detailed questions on how the department would handle detainee request policies, complaint processes, training on federal immigration law and civil-rights protections, and whether victims and witnesses would continue to feel safe reporting crimes. The Chief said existing community-policing efforts, outreach and training (including crisis intervention and de-escalation) were the department’s first line of work, but that further, specific training related to any ICE collaboration would be addressed once ICE and the city define required roles.

No text of an MOU was before the council on April 16; the resolution authorized the city manager to pursue and execute an agreement and directed legal staff to prepare any necessary documents. The Chief and the City Attorney said additional operational details, training requirements and complaint-handling procedures would be determined as part of drafting and negotiations with ICE.

The council approved the resolution by roll call vote. The move begins an administrative negotiation and drafting process; the city will return detailed terms to the council before implementing operational changes.

Ending: The city did not present a draft MOU or detailed training curriculum at the meeting. City staff said they will negotiate terms, prepare the written MOU and bring the final document back to the council and the public for additional review as required.