Miami immigration advocates urge city to end ICE partnership

MIAMI — Dozens of advocates, students and community members urged Miami commissioners Thursday to terminate the city’s agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying the partnership has created fear among immigrant residents.

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“It’s ridiculous that it’s come to this point. I am happy to be here and stand on what I believe in,” said Kaitlyn Daily of Young Democratic Socialists of America at FIU.

“We know that they turn any interaction with law enforcement into a potential immigration interaction and it’s a stifling fear,” said a man named William with the American Friends Service Committee.

The group then waited for their turn to take their message inside during public comment.

The city’s partnership with ICE has been in place since the Miami City Commission approved the in June 2025.

“I’m an immigrant and I’m here to say no more ICE,” Angela Winter said.

The agreement allows select Miami police officers, after receiving federal training, to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties in coordination with ICE, including questioning, detaining and, in some cases, arresting people suspected of immigration violations.

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Supporters of ending the agreement say it has created fear in immigrant communities, making some people less likely to report crimes or cooperate with police.

“If the police act as deportation agents it will minimize the trust that the community has in the police,” one man said.

The issue returned to Miami City Hall after Commissioner Christine King placed it on Thursday’s agenda for discussion.

For more than an hour, advocates urged city leaders to reconsider the agreement, saying ending it would help restore trust between police and the community.

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