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Residents tell Fort Myers council ICE agreement would erode trust, reduce 911 reporting
Summary
Dozens of speakers — immigrants, attorneys, faith leaders and advocacy groups — urged the council to reject the ICE MOA, arguing it would lead to racial profiling, make residents afraid to report crimes and impose costs on the city; many cited studies and local demographic figures.
Hundreds of residents and community advocates addressed the Fort Myers City Council during an emergency meeting to oppose a memorandum of agreement with ICE that would train local officers to perform certain federal immigration functions.
Speakers described personal and community fears that police cooperation with ICE would lead to profiling and a drop in crime reporting. Emmanuelle Casimir, an immigration attorney, told the council: "Do we want a society where police arrest first, ask question later?" Multiple witnesses said that even lawfully present and U.S. citizens could be caught in enforcement sweeps, and several speakers cited demographic and economic figures — including an assertion that roughly 17–25% of the area is immigrant and that immigrant‑born residents contribute millions in tax revenue and local spending.
Speakers and local advocates also cited legal and financial examples from other jurisdictions to warn that participation in the 287(g)‑style program can carry significant municipal costs: "A county in Arizona created a $1,300,000 deficit after only 3 months," one commenter said, and speakers referenced multi‑million‑dollar impacts elsewhere.
Faith leaders and nonprofit representatives urged council members to weigh community cohesion and the practical consequence that victims and witnesses may stop contacting police if officers are perceived to be acting as immigration agents. Several public commenters asked why the meeting was scheduled at 2 p.m. on a weekday and said that timing limited attendance by working residents.
