DORAL, Fla. – Doral is the latest South Florida municipality considering whether to enter into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the controversial 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement agencies to assist in enforcing federal immigration laws.
The proposed agreement would “provide for operational assistance pertaining to enforcement of laws to combat illegal immigration.”
Read the resolution by clicking here.
Doral Vice Mayor Maureen Porras said the city attorney has advised that the municipality must enter into the agreement.
“Our attorney has actually advised us that this is a contract we have to enter into,” she said.
Porras added she believes the agreement will pass when it comes up for a vote. “So I think this is going to be an agreement that is going to pass,” Porras said.
UPDATE: The resolution passed unanimously on Wednesday.
Doral joins more than 200 Florida agencies already participating in the 287(g) program — more than any other state, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement data. Texas has the second-most with 73 agencies.
Noon report:
Juan Cuba, a member of the Miami Freedom Project, voiced concern about the impact such agreements have on local immigrant communities.
“Cities are being compelled by fear by the attorney and attorney general,” Cuba said. “The result of signing this agreement is creating fear in the community.”
He added, “They don’t have enough ICE agents to round up and do this mass deportation. They [need] the help of local police.”
Florida Highway Patrol recently announced on X that 1,400 state troopers will be sworn in as ICE task force officers, expanding the state’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
Porras emphasized the city’s commitment to its police department and to protecting residents’ rights.
“So for us we want to be able to support our police department in carrying out those duties and at the same time we want to ensure that we are not using this contract to discriminate against anyone for their immigration status,” she said.
She acknowledged that many residents are worried about the proposal.
“I know that it is concerning for a lot of people but that is why we need to do a lot of community outreach,” Porras said.
While some cities move forward with the agreements, others are questioning whether they are legally required to do so.
“Cities are not required by state or federal law to sign 287(g) task force model agreements,” Cuba said.
But Porras said Doral’s legal team believes otherwise.
“Our attorney has interpreted the law to say that we have to enter into this agreement. There may be different interpretations in other municipalities,” she said.
South Miami is among those challenging the mandate. The city is asking a court for clarity on whether such agreements are legally necessary.
“Go to court and ask for a declaratory action on the part of a judge, to ask, are we in compliance, do we need to do this?” South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez said during a public meeting last month.
At last check, South Miami officials were still waiting for a ruling.
Porras said Doral is watching that case closely.
“I think that is why we saw the city of South Miami take this to a judge for an answer because there may be some discrepancies, different interpretations of it. We are also hoping we see some sort of order from a judge really clarifying what it means and whether we have to abide by. But right now we have to follow the recommendation of our attorney,” she said.
Cuba warned that Doral’s decision could have widespread effects.
“I think this is very dangerous for a city like Doral that has so many families of mixed status, so many families that have protection currently, that came through TPS or humanitarian parole, or [are] applying for asylum and living in fear that that might be stripped because the current administration is currently challenging those status and they will have to make a difficult decision whether to return to an oppressive government or to live here without status,” he said.
Read South Miami’s complaint for declaratory relief in the document below.
