Around 75 people gathered in St. Petersburg on Saturday to discuss efforts to persuade Tampa and St. Petersburg police chiefs to cancel partnership agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made earlier this year.
Florida law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, requires county sheriffs or chief correctional officers to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE, but municipalities are not mandated to do so. Despite this, many police departments, including those in Tampa and St. Petersburg, have signed such agreements quietly.
Activists at the event urged Police Chiefs Lee Bercaw (Tampa) and Anthony Holloway (St. Petersburg) to cancel the agreements, citing concerns about community trust. Attendees were encouraged to send letters to the chiefs and mayors Jane Castor (Tampa) and Ken Welch (St. Petersburg).
Activist Karla Correa highlighted threats from Florida Attorney James Uthmeier to remove city council members opposing these agreements, noting similar incidents in Orlando, Key West, and Fort Myers. Key West’s city commission had voided its 287(g) agreement after learning it was signed without their knowledge but later approved a new one.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Holloway stated the department only assists ICE during lawful encounters and does not receive funding for ICE operations. Legal representatives have clarified that municipalities are not required to sign 287(g) agreements.
The Tampa Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.
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