Florida Bill would force police to cooperate with ICE

A proposed Florida bill would force local government agencies to inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), about detainees who do not possess documentation that certifies them as legal residents.

This means that if a person is arrested for a traffic infraction or a breach of any law and does not prove their legal status in the country, they would be referred to ICE to analyze their case and be prosecuted.

The bill, SB 168, filed by state Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, states that public officials, police or detectives who fail to report to the federal authorities could be suspended or even dismissed.

In fact, this bill, which is called the Rule of Law Adherence Act, will be discussed in Tallahassee during the legislative session that begins on March 5, meets the White House’s request to cities that do not cooperate with Immigration to “cooperate to avoid the suspension of federal aid”.

This is the same request that Miami-Dade ayor, Carlos Giménez, took into account and transmitted to public officials, police, and detectives just a couple of years ago that caused so much controversy in the Hispanic public opinion in Miami Dade county.

In the case of Florida, “the intimidating request of the White House does not proceed since it was thrown out to cities and counties,” said attorney Luis Martinez, of the Martinez & Associates law firm.

However, the state could adopt the “suggestion” if the bill is finally approved and validated by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Meanwhile, the state Republican Senator in the town of Longwood, David Simmons argued, as published by the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, that the proposal will be presented first to the state Senate Judiciary Committee on February 11.

Then, that audience “will be the beginning of the debate” on how the state could change its position regarding the way “it works” with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Otherwise, we do not do anyone a favor by disrespecting laws that are logical, and we do not do well if we do not reach an agreement on broader (immigration) issues,” the state senator added.

The bill also prohibits local governments from adopting policies that prevent law enforcement agencies from conducting “investigations into the immigration status.”

And it also prohibits restricting the exchange of information between the Immigration and Customs Service and the local police.

On the other hand, if it is approved, it would force all the personnel of the prisons of Florida to inform ICE, as happens today in Miami-Dade.

However, several community groups, including the organization The American Civil Liberties Union, have announced that they will face the proposal and take the matter to the appropriate court.