The agreement, approved by a majority of the city council, establishes that police officers will receive federal training to collaborate in immigration operations. Mayor Francis Suárez defended the measure as “a tool to combat organized crime”.
However, organizations such as the Florida Immigrant Coalition and the ACLU have charged that this could lead to racial profiling and violations of constitutional rights.
The Justice Department has requested a review of the agreement to verify its legality. Meanwhile, activists have called for a march in front of city hall this weekend.