On a recent day, immigration advocates, civil liberties organizations, and spiritual leaders took to the streets to express their displeasure. This impactful demonstration took place outside the yearly assembly of the National Sheriffs’ Association, located at the Broward Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. Their specific request is a plea for sheriffs nationwide to terminate their cooperative relationship with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The collaborative effort between ICE and the sheriffs primarily revolves around the pursuit and capture of those suspected to be dwelling in the United States without the necessary documentation.
The event’s organizers publicized that they had presented a letter to the sheriffs. This letter, undersigned by more than 12,000 individuals across the country, holds significance due to the identities of the signatories – faith leaders and people deeply rooted in various religious communities. Through this letter, they desire sheriffs across the nation to refrain from supporting the current administration’s focus on deportation.
Tessa Petit, serving as the Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, put forth a compelling argument in an official statement. Petit asserts that law enforcement officials should primarily focus on their commitment to safeguard the community and act in the best interests of its residents. She emphasized the need for local enforcement authorities to foster a trusting relationship with the community they serve.
She further elaborated on her statement, emphasizing the necessity of a safe and secure environment. According to Petit, any individual in the country, despite their origins, should be able to call upon the services of the law enforcement agencies without fear. That fear exists primarily due to the uncertainty of their immigration status being questioned when reporting a crime.
Petit continues stressing that citizens should not be compelled to shoulder the financial burden of these immigration enforcement practices. She pointed out that these practices, considered by some to be unwarranted and antagonistic, might lead to legal complications in the form of civil lawsuits. These legal procedures would only serve to deplete the taxpayers’ funds further.
Organizers particularly oppose the arrangement colloquially known as the ‘287(g)’ agreement. This agreement allows local police to assume the role of federal immigration enforcement agents. It does so in support of the current president’s ‘hard-line’ deportation strategy, leading the organizers to solicit its discontinuation.
The contentious program is the initiative of ICE. Despite its age, spanning several decades, the program has seen rejuvenation and growth under the current presidency. The program equips local law enforcement officers with the skills necessary to question immigrants under their custody and potentially hold them for deportation.
Advocates of the 287(g) agreements maintain that the program is indeed required. They argue that it is necessary to back the current administration’s endeavor to expel immigrants who are unlawfully residing in the country. In addition, the focus is on individuals who have indulged in criminal activities or who drain the limited taxpayer-funded resources, which could instead be directed towards aiding U.S. citizens or immigrants lawfully inhabiting the country.
The data indicates that the volume of 287(g) agreements has amplified significantly under the present administration’s term. The figures suggest that the count of these agreements has grown over fourfold, totaling up to approximately 650, since the incumbent assumed office in January.
Taking an even closer look at the data, one realizes that by no means is this pattern confined to a small area. A staggering 250 police agencies spread across Florida, in fact, have ratified the agreement. The scope encompasses sheriff’s offices in all of the state’s 67 counties.
The mandate in Florida is clear when it comes to the operation of county jails. The responsibility for managing these facilities rests on the hands of the sheriff departments. This regulation is one among several that helps the state maintain consistency and uniformity in its law enforcement procedures.