Mayor Gimenez Defends Immigration Policy

MIAMI — Facing pushback from undocumented immigrants and others, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez insisted on Friday that police will never become immigration officers on his watch, but that the threat of federal funding cuts from the Trump administration is very real.

"Despite recent headlines, chants ugly accusations to the contrary, Miami-Dade police offices have not, will not be immigration officers," Gimenez said.

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The mayor addressed the Miami-Dade Commission after dozens of people voiced their concerns over his controversial Jan. 26 order directing county jails to comply with a new White House policy targeting sanctuary cities and jurisdiction.

"We protect everybody here in Miami-Dade County exactly the same way," he insisted.

The mayor added that he had been advised by a Texas congressman that Miami-Dade County is being removed from the list of sanctuary jurisdiction as a result of the order.

Friday's speakers were given one minute to make their case under rules outlined by Chairman Esteban L. Bovo, Jr. at the onset. Many of the speakers wore white flowers as a show of support for undocumented people living and working in Miami-Dade County.

"Right now I’m a fugitive and based on the law I’m a criminal," said one speaker. "I'm not a criminal and I don’t think I should be treated as a criminal."

The Gimenez order came one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening federal funding to cities that didn't comply.

Gimenez said on Friday that the county was in jeopardy of losing $355 million in federal funds that go to police and public housing.

According to data released earlier this week, the county received a total of 34 immigration detainer requests from the federal government in the initial weeks following the mayor's order between Jan. 27 and Feb. 7. The charges on the affected individuals included everything from possession of marijuana to petit theft, assault and murder.

"Most are repeat offenders," Gimenez said, noting that about 70 percent of the detainer requests were for people who had been charged before.

In issuing his order, Gimenez and other county officials had feared that Miami-Dade might be unfairly lumped in with jurisdictions that openly shield undocumented immigrants from prosecution as Patch reported earlier.

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Friday's meeting took place in the Miami-Dade County Commission chamber on the second floor of the Stephen P. Clark Center at 111 NW 1st St. in downtown Miami.

"Miami-Dade County doesn’t’ know the immigration status of any of the people we arrest," the mayor said. "It is the federal government who tells us they have an interest."

Image of Carlos A. Gimenez and all other images courtesy of Miami-Dade County live stream.