Miami Considers Granting Police Immigration Enforcement Powers

The City of Miami is weighing whether to join a growing number of Florida municipalities in granting local police officers federal immigration enforcement powers.

A vote, scheduled for Thursday by the City Commission, could authorize Miami's entry into a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), enabling officers to carry out immigration duties during routine policing.

If approved, Miami officers would operate under the "task force" model of the 287(g) program, which ICE has called a "force multiplier," as The Miami Herald reports. The model allows select local officers to question, arrest, and detain individuals suspected of violating immigration law while working with ICE.

According to ICE, participating officers must complete federal training and pass the same examinations administered to ICE personnel. The city would nominate officers and cover related personnel costs, while ICE would fund travel and lodging for training.

This move comes amid heightened pressure from Governor Ron DeSantis' administration, which interprets Florida's sanctuary city law as requiring cooperation with federal immigration authorities—not only from county jails but also from city police departments. While not explicitly mandated in state law, DeSantis has encouraged municipal participation in the program.

Over 200 active 287(g) agreements exist in Florida, more than any other state. Miami would join cities such as Hialeah, Coral Gables, Orlando and Doral, which have already entered into similar partnerships following recent state legislation. Doral, for example, approved its agreement last week after a heated city council meeting where officials emphasized compliance with state mandates despite concerns raised by community members.

Critics of the program argue it undermines public trust and may deter residents, many of whom are immigrants, from reporting crimes or interacting with police. In Miami, over half the population is foreign-born, and more than 70% identify as Hispanic or Latino.

Federal oversight of the 287(g) program was scaled back under the Obama administration after the Department of Justice found that it had led to racial profiling. President Donald Trump reinstated the task force model upon returning to office earlier this year.