KEY WEST, FLA. (WSVN) - In a dramatic policy shift, Key West commissioners are reversing their stance and now plan to cooperate again with a previously rejected agreement involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Commissioners voted Tuesday night to re-enter their agreement between local police and federal immigration officials after they received backlash from state officials.
“I’m voting with my head and not my heart,” said Commissioner Donald Lee.
But the controversial meeting was met with protesters as they pleaded with commissioners to keep their original vote which voided the agreement.
“We are all immigrants of this country with our ancestors coming from foreign shores,” said one protester.
“This is a small community. I am begging you. These are people we know, that we’ve worked with for 20 years, some of them,” said another resident.
“Last week you did something good. You did something brave. You gave us hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. If you can go back on that, you’re going to destroy the island’s economy, morale, humanity,” said another protester.
Despite loud protest, commissioners voted 4-to-2 to cooperate with the Trump-era federal immigration enforcement policy that allows local officers to act as ICE agents.
It was a change from a week prior when in a 6-to-1 vote, commissioners voted to void the agreement, saying it was improperly signed by the police chief instead of the city manager. But Lee, who is a former police chief, joined Mayor Danise Henriquez and two other commissioners in changing their vote to re-enforce the agreement.
The city faced pressure from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and State Attorney General James Uthmeier after they issued threats, warning city officials that they could face removal from their post if they didn’t align themselves with state law.
Following the vote, many residents were left angry and disappointed. Some stormed out of the meeting in protest.
Commissioner Lissette Carey made a comment as she watched those in opposition to the decision leaving.
“It appears in this room that we are one human family, unless we have a difference of opinions,” she said.
The program remains voluntary under federal law, but the DeSantis administration said cooperation is necessary to enforce Florida’s anti-sanctuary city law.
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