‘Face the consequences:’ Florida AG goes after Fort Myers over sanctuary policies

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is going after the Fort Myers City Council after it rejected an agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — a motion that Uthmeier said makes Fort Myers a “sanctuary city.”

During the city council meeting on Monday, council members split 3-3 on approving a 287(g) agreement with ICE, which would provide training for local law enforcement to better identify and remove criminal undocumented immigrants.

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However, Florida state statutes prohibit local governments from setting up sanctuary cities, thus prompting the backlash from Uthmeier, who claimed that the city council violated the law with their failure to accept the agreement.

“Sanctuary policies are illegal in Florida. Your vote last night makes you a sanctuary city,” Uthmeier wrote. “Fix this problem or face the consequences.”

As a result, Uthmeier issued a letter to the city council, declaring that “immediate corrective action is required.”

According to the letter, if the city council fails to reverse the decision, then the council could face the following penalties:

• Being held in contempt
• Declaratory or injunctive relief
• Removal from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis

“By failing to approve the Department’s 287(g) agreement, Fort Myers is implicitly implementing a sanctuary policy,” the letter reads. “Prohibiting city police officers from receiving the necessary federal training to adequately enforce U.S. immigration laws not only prevents city police from enforcing current federal immigration law but effectively prevents the city police department from participating in federal immigration operations.”