Attorney General of Florida warns Fort Myers after blocking the ICE partnership

Tallahasse – Florida's Attorney General threatens to reject the members of the city council of Fort Myers for rejection of a proposed immigration partnership with the federal government, and marks the first attempt by the state to publicly force local civil servants to get involved in the trump government's immigration.

In a letter on Tuesday, Attorney General James Uthmeier said that her decision not to be enrolled for a program for immigration and customs and customs enforcement, “a serious and direct violation of a law in Florida – or places to restrict the cooperation with immigration authorities to a variety of paths.

“The failure to correct the measures of the council leads to the enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal punishments, including, but not limited to contempt, declaratory or temporary relief and removal of the office by the governor,” wrote Uthmeier in the letter.

A few hours before Uthmeier sent the letter, Governor Ron Desantis published a broad warning to local civil servants who did not take part in the 287 (G) program. He said that the “days of inactivity were over” and signaled that he was ready to take measures against them.

“Use yourself accordingly,” said the governor in one position on X.

The warning of the governor and the letter from the General Prosecutor are the latest examples of how Florida uses his powers to force local civil servants to play a role in enforcing the immigration of the federal immigration to help President Donald Trump, who are illegal to find and deport immigrants.

Desantis previously used his executive authority to remove local officials from office, including two prosecutors from the Orlando and Tampa region. In one case, a federal judge decided that Desantis had violated Florida's constitution and the first change, but said that there was no recourse to bring the prosecutor back into office.

With regard to the enforcement of immigration, Desantis was one of the most aggressive governors in the country to enable laws that should help Trump's immigration agenda. The situation in Fort Myers could be a test for how much the state will get involved in the fact that this is done locally.

Fort Myers seems to be the first city of the state to be against the enrollment of its city police department for the city in 287 (G) program. The decision was emotional, with the members of the city council cried when they prepared for voting on Monday. Your final decision did not come without considering the consequences first.

At one point on Monday, the prosecutor Grant Alley told the council members that “there will be consequences”, although he didn't know what they would be.

The laws of Florida require the law enforcement authorities to fully work together to work together the federal immigration authorities, but only expressly request Sheriff and main correction officers who register the district's prison for the 287 (G) program with three models. State law does not require agencies to enroll for a specific model.

Just seven weeks after the second term of the second term of Trump, more than 100 law enforcement authorities in Florida were approved for participation in the 287 (g) Task Force model, with which the officials who live illegally in the country in the municipality during their routine jobs can be questioned and in question.

The Florida Sheriff's Association recently announced that all district prisons in the state have merged with ICE to meet them. In the past few weeks, a growing number of local and state police authorities has also been signed for these partnerships.

The participating agencies today include the Highway Patrol, the sheriff's offices in the counties Miami-Dade, Monroe and Hillsborough and local police authorities in Coral Gables, Tampa and St. Petersburg.

In a meeting last week, Coral Gables, Ed Hudak, the head of the legislative matters of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, said that the city prosecution authorities were not obliged to conclude these agreements under the law of Florida. However, the ICE partnership is a way to comply with the ban on sanctuary cities in Florida, which forbids local governments to restrict cooperation to enforce immigration to the federal government.

In Fort Myers, police chief Jason Fields characterized the ICE partnership as a procedural agreement.

“We will not use people's doors and pull mothers and children out of the houses.

Commissioner who voted against the ice agreement said they were concerned about racial profiles and the criminalization of the residents. Fort Myers was born around a quarter of Latino and a fifth foreigner, according to the census data.

“My city is not for sale,” said Darla Bonk, member of the city council, in tears.