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Fort Myers council adopts ICE memorandum after lengthy public comment
Summary
After hours of public testimony and a series of questions about costs, civil‑rights risks and state guidance, the Fort Myers City Council voted to adopt a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train selected police officers to perform certain ICE functions.
The Fort Myers City Council voted to adopt a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after extended public comment and council discussion about legal, fiscal and community‑trust implications.
Council members moved and seconded the item and then took a roll‑call vote; each member responded in the affirmative and the mayor declared, "Motion carries." The vote came after residents, attorneys and community leaders urged the council both to approve and to reject the measure, citing competing views about public safety, cost and civil‑liberties risks.
Council debate focused on what the agreement does in practice, who would be trained and paid for the training, and whether state guidance or court rulings already require or permit municipal participation. Deputy Chief Victor Medico told the council that training and certification would be offered to selected officers and that certified officers would return to their regular assignments but be available to act when ICE agents are not present.
In a speech read near the vote, Council member Banc said she had spent the week gathering documents and legal perspectives and warned the council it had been placed in a difficult position; she also thanked the FBI for investigating threats against elected officials and said, "I will continue to uphold my oath, and I will continue to represent Ward 6 with integrity, transparency, and courage."
