The commissioners of Miami are on the brink of deciding whether to officialize a partnership between the city’s law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A soon-approaching vote is set to take place, specifically at 9:00 a.m. on an upcoming Tuesday, concerning an issue that has sparked waves of nationwide protests.
Such collaborations have already been seen in other cities around South Florida, namely Doral and Coral Gables. In these cities, the police force and ICE have united in efforts to battle illegal immigration in the recent past.
The model of collaboration, termed as ‘Task Force’ or the 287(g) program, gives local police officers the ability to function similarly to immigration enforcement officials. This broadened power allows them to question, arrest, and detain individuals who are suspected of committing immigration law violations, without having the prior command of a warrant.
The adoption of this unique model isn’t new to Miami. Previously, cities close-by, including Hialeah and Sweetwater, have given the green light to this form of collaboration.
Yet, in some communities, residents expressed fears that adopting this model of collaboration may result in unchecked racial profiling and incidents of crime that go unreported. These criticisms have emerged amid growing national debates around law enforcement practices.
In response to the suggestions of possible racial biases and unreported crime, the city’s mayor passionately defended the prospective partnership with ICE. The mayor has been a strong supporter of both the collaboration and the principles of legal immigration.
The potential partnership stirred up vigorous public dialogue, culminating in a public hearing where numerous residents voiced their opposition to the proposed collaboration and criticized the conduct of ICE raids. This came against the backdrop of widespread criticisms and protests aimed at national immigration enforcement practices.
The ongoing discussions around this collaboration have been further complicated by internal controversies within the Miami Police Department. Claims emerged of drug-related infractions involving five officers, stirring up more concern amongst the residents.
Four out of the five officers alleged to have been involved in these infractions have been put on paid suspension, as an official inquiry continues. The origins of this investigation tracked back to an unusual incident where a Miami police officer’s ex-girlfriend got apprehended post stealing his undercover vehicle.
This woman’s arrest led to a flurry of startling allegations of illegal behaviours involving her ex-boyfriend and his colleagues on the police force. Among the officers implicated in these allegations are members of the gang unit, an individual associated with the ‘Task Force’, and an influential member of the Internal Affairs department.
The issues plaguing the police department have a larger scope than just this incident. A former deputy of the department came under scrutiny after his colleagues arrested him for apparently purchasing and distributing MDMA – a serious drug-related offense.
This deputy wasn’t just arrested on suspicion of drug possession but was accused of intending to sell drug packets that were ingeniously hidden inside Skittles bags while on a cruise. The deputy succeeded in securing bail after his arrest but still faces heavy charges.
The local prosecutors maintained that the arrested deputy intended on selling the drugs to passengers aboard the aforementioned cruise. Coupled with the ongoing internal investigation against the Miami Police Department and the public dissent over a potential tie-up with ICE, these serious allegations have stirred up a tempest in the city.
The post Miami Commissioners to Decide on a Controversial ICE Partnership appeared first on Real News Now.
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