Florida Launches Investigation Into City Council for Voting to Not Cooperate With ICE

“These council members’ actions likely run afoul of Florida Statute, and my office will be investigating,” he said.

Under the agreement, local police officers would be trained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to handle situations involving illegal immigrants.

Securing the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada and deporting some 11 million illegal immigrants who came in during the Biden administration was one of President Donald Trump’s key campaign promises. States such as Florida and Texas have led the way in aiding the Trump administration to make good on its promise.

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Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields said the training was necessary for officers to manage such instances effectively.

The governor stated that recently enacted laws require local entities to participate in federal immigration enforcement.

“Florida will ensure its laws are followed, and when it comes to immigration—the days of inaction are over. Govern yourselves accordingly,” DeSantis wrote.

DeSantis, who ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, has developed a reputation as being tough on crime and illegal immigration, leading Florida to impose stricter laws.

The governor hasn’t been reluctant to use his executive power to go after local officials over policies.

DeSantis removed two Democrat district attorneys from office in recent years, accusing them of not prosecuting certain state crimes involving guns, minors, and abortion.

Fields said during the council meeting that the agreement was to train his officers on how to proceed when encountering someone violating the law who is in the country illegally.

“We’re not going to be kicking in people’s doors and pulling, you know, mothers and children out of houses,” Fields said.

The police chief cited a homicide where a body was dismembered and a sexual assault involving illegal immigrants as examples of how the training could be beneficial.

City council members were advised by their attorney that not approving the agreement could impact federal and state funding.

“There will be consequences. But I don’t know what they are,” said City Attorney Grant Alley.

During the discussion, council members expressed their concerns about racial profiling and taking on the responsibility of the federal government.

“It’s the federal government’s fault that we’re in this position,” said council member Fred Burson, who ended up voting in favor of working with federal agencies though he spoke against it.

“They need to make legal immigration smoother. That way they wouldn’t have illegal immigration,” he said.

Burson added that illegal immigrants are needed to pick crops, which will end up costing more if they are all deported.

“Regardless of what you say, this is being initiated against the Hispanic population,” he said.

Others, such as Terolyn Watson, a black councilwoman, voted against the agreement, citing her unease with the policy.

“Me, as coming from a people that was tormented for over 400 years, I can feel how they’re feeling about this,” she said.

DeSantis, who has championed laws against illegal immigration, signed several immigration enforcement bills into law in February after a special session.

One mandated the death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of a capital offense, including murder and rape of a child.

The law also imposes $5,000 fines and suspension from office for county or municipal officials who refuse to comply with immigration detainers issued by a federal agency.

Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada because he does not believe they are doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States that’s responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths nationwide. The president initially imposed a 10 percent tariff on China for its role in suppling precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl to Mexican cartels, which the U.S. State Department designated as terrorist groups. Early this month, he increased tariffs on Chinese goods to 20 percent.