New Port Richey council approves 287(g) ICE memorandum after hours-long debate; vote 4–1

The New Port Richey City Council voted 4–1 on March 18 to approve a 287(g) memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that authorizes selected, trained local officers to assist federal immigration enforcement.

Police Chief Cochin, who introduced the item, said the agreement would allow the department to "gain access to cutting edge technology, expert training, improved operational coordination" and described the agreement as consistent with recent Florida law encouraging local cooperation. "The purpose of this agreement is for our department to join and pool our drone capabilities..." he said in presenting the item and later described the ICE partnership as an extension of existing collaborations.

Several council members voiced concerns before the vote. One council member who opposed the agreement (identified in the record only as a council member) said the measure felt like a state-driven compulsion and warned about local resource demands and data-sharing risks. "This agreement for me is not about concerns with the Fourth Amendment… What this has to do with is us being compelled to do the work of the federal government without any due compensation," the council member said, adding that mandated cooperation could harm trust built by local victim-advocacy and outreach programs.

City Attorney Tim Driscoll urged approval, citing state-level enforcement actions and possible penalties for noncompliance; he warned that a vote against the agreement could be used as evidence the council did not use "best efforts" as required by the statute and that penalties could include fines or removal from office. "I would highly recommend that you vote to approve this," Driscoll said, noting the legal risks of refusing the state's direction.

Chief Cochin told the council the agreement had been reviewed and approved as to form by the city attorney and that there would be no immediate budget impact. Council members who supported the memorandum said it would strengthen interagency cooperation and public-safety response.

The council took public comment before the vote but heard no speakers opposed during that period. The final roll-call tally recorded four members in favor and one opposed. The minutes record the outcome as approved 4–1.

What’s next: Council members said follow-up directives or companion resolutions addressing transparency, data sharing and local standards could be considered later to govern how the city implements the agreement.