In a 7 to 0 vote, the Fort Myers City Council passed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Fort Myers Police and ICE, allowing local law enforcement to be trained by ICE agents and perform immigration enforcement. This decision came after a contentious city council meeting where three members voted against the agreement. The council chambers were filled with community members expressing their opinions for three hours, with the majority opposing the agreement. Despite some support for the MOA, with two to three people in favor, most speakers argued against it, calling it wrong and potentially illegal.
Governor Ron DeSantis intervened in the discussion, stating that Fort Myers must enter into an agreement with ICE or face potential consequences, including suspension of elected officials from office. The mayor at one point had to address several individuals going off-topic during the meeting, with tensions running high as emotions flared. Despite the opposition from community members, all 67 Florida Sheriffs have signed on to the agreement.
The emergency meeting and subsequent decision highlight the division within the community over immigration enforcement and collaboration with federal agencies. The impact of this agreement on the immigrant community in Fort Myers remains to be seen as tensions and discussions around immigration policy continue. The pushback from some council members and community members underscores the complexities and controversies surrounding immigration enforcement at the local level.
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