Miami, Florida — In a deeply divisive vote on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the City of Miami Commission formally approved a controversial agreement allowing local police officers to participate in federal immigration enforcement. The measure, known as a Section 287(g) Task Force Model agreement, was ratified by a narrow 3-2 margin, granting select personnel from the Miami Police Department limited authority to act on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security following mandatory training.
The decision followed an emotionally charged public hearing that saw the majority of residents who addressed the commission voice strong opposition to the proposal. Critics primarily cited concerns that empowering local police with immigration duties would severely erode trust within Miami’s large immigrant communities, making residents hesitant to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement.
The Vote and Key Players
The crucial vote saw Commissioners Miguel Angel Gabela, Joe Carollo, and Ralph “Rafael” Rosado cast their ballots in favor of adopting the Section 287(g) agreement. This bloc ultimately outweighed the dissent voiced by Commissioners Christine King and Damian Pardo, who voted against the measure after hours of intense public comment reflecting widespread community apprehension.
The agreement stipulates that participating Miami police officers will undergo specific training mandated by ICE. Upon successful completion, they would be authorized to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions under the direct supervision of ICE agents. Proponents argue this collaboration enhances public safety by targeting individuals who pose a threat.
Official Justification and State Mandates
Miami Police Chief Manuel A. Morales spoke in strong support of the agreement during the commission meeting. Chief Morales asserted that the city was effectively compelled to seek such powers due to state statute 908. He further issued a stark warning regarding the potential financial repercussions of non-compliance, estimating that the city stood to lose approximately $20 million annually in vital federal and state law enforcement grants if the agreement was not adopted.
This move by Miami is part of a broader push across Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration to encourage local jurisdictions to enter into 287(g) agreements. Reports indicate that Attorney General James Uthmeier has been actively warning cities and counties hesitant to implement such measures about potential state-level consequences.
Community Concerns vs. Law Enforcement Integration
The public debate leading up to the vote highlighted a fundamental tension between the stated goals of enhanced public safety through federal-local law enforcement integration and the potential negative impacts on community relations. Opponents detailed fears that any interaction with local police could inadvertently lead to immigration checks, potentially chilling cooperation from undocumented or mixed-status immigrant residents who might otherwise assist in criminal investigations or report crimes.
Advocates for the agreement, including Chief Morales, emphasized that the program is designed to focus on individuals who have committed serious offenses and are already within the correctional system or encountered under specific circumstances, not on routine street-level immigration checks. They maintain that the targeted nature of the Task Force Model minimizes risks to the broader community while providing law enforcement with necessary tools.
However, the emotional testimony from residents opposing the measure underscored deep-seated fears and a perceived threat to the fabric of trust painstakingly built between law enforcement and vulnerable communities over years. The 3-2 vote reflects the city’s struggle to balance state pressures and perceived law enforcement needs against significant community concerns.
Looking Ahead
With the approval now secured, the City of Miami Police Department will proceed with identifying officers for the mandatory ICE training required for the Section 287(g) Task Force Model program. The implementation phase will likely be closely watched by both proponents and opponents, serving as a test case for how this federal-local partnership impacts public safety, community trust, and the city’s relationship with state authorities moving forward. The roughly $20 million in potential grant funding that Chief Morales cited as being at risk if the measure failed appears to have been a significant factor in the decision for the majority of commissioners.
