Tallahassee City Commissioners want to explore their options regarding legal action around a state law passed this year pushing local governments to enter into immigration enforcement agreements with ICE.
Tallahassee commissioner Jeremy Matlow pushed Wednesday for an agenda item at next meeting to explore joining a lawsuit from the City of South Miami or maybe starting their own related to whether the city is required to have an 287(g) agreement.
Tallahassee’s city manager Reece Goad and chief of police Lawrence Revell entered into a 287(g) agreement earlier this year after the state passed a law making it a requirement for counties and correctional facilities. The agreements allow cooperation between ICE and local and state law enforcement on immigration raids. Revell says only one TPD officer has received training under the 287(g) agreement, and no TPD officer has assisted in immigration enforcement activities in the city. He also says he believes the agreements are currently legally required.
“I understand that you're saying that this can be challenged in court and is being challenged in court, but on the best advice of legal that I received at the time, I believed that was, and still believe that that was the most prudent course of to follow.”
The legislation doesn’t say specifically that cities must enter into the agreements.
But Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier have been threating local officials with removal from office if they void 287(g) agreements or refuse to enter them if they are supported by local law enforcement. DeSantis said any city official that stands in the way of an agreement is violating a state law against sanctuary cities. The City of South Miami is currently suing for clarification.
Matlow said he thinks DeSantis and Uthmeier are overstepping.
“I understand the governor and the Attorney General have issued threats and made an opinion, but we're not a nation of kings, presidents, nor governors are not kings. They didn't write the law. They can't interpret the law, but we do have the ability to is to seek, to seek justice through the court system,” he said.
While the commission voted unanimously to explore legal options, some of its members expressed hesitancy to void the agreements. Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox is concerned that DeSantis removing commissioners and replacing them with his own picks could harm other segments of Tallahassee.
“I don't agree with what's going. On, but there are other folks who need assistance that we are obligated to help. I agree we help where we can, do what we can, but not at the cost of negating our responsibility to all these other folks,” she said.
The item is supposed to come back at the next city commission meeting on September 3rd.