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Residents urge council to reject ICE partnership, citing fear and profiling
Summary
Dozens of residents told the Fort Myers City Council that a proposed memorandum of agreement with ICE would encourage racial profiling, discourage victims from reporting crimes, and harm the city’s diverse workforce; speakers asked the council to protect immigrant trust.
A steady stream of residents urged the Fort Myers City Council to reject the memorandum of agreement (agenda item 3.3) that would authorize certain Fort Myers officers to perform immigration‑related functions after ICE training and federal approval.
"This memorandum gives local law enforcement unchecked power to detain people on assumptions," Megan Emery told the council, arguing the agreement would create "an atmosphere of fear" that would make victims and witnesses less likely to contact police. Speakers from community groups, faith organizations, frontline workers and longtime residents described empirical and lived‑experience concerns about racial profiling and the chilling effect on public safety.
Patricia Zimmerman of Lee Interfaith for Empowerment emphasized the economic and humanitarian stakes: "Making more funds available will speed up completion of these desperately needed multifamily buildings..." (on housing funding, which several speakers tied to broader equity concerns). Many commenters asked for additional public safeguards, independent oversight, and a delay to allow a budget‑workshop review and clearer training and reporting metrics.
