Hialeah has strengthened its partnership with federal immigration enforcement, approving local law enforcement's support for the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants. The City Council, with six members in favor and one absent, approved Mayor Esteban Bovo to formalize the agreement under the federal 287(g) program, as reported by CBS News Miami.
Officials have clarified that Hialeah police will support federal immigration efforts without acting aggressively. Mayor Bovo emphasized that the police are there to serve the community, urging residents to call the police or fire department if needed. He also stressed the importance of following the law, noting that being in the country illegally is a violation and advising people to avoid drawing attention to themselves. The cooperation with ICE is optional under new state immigration laws, but the potential consequences of not participating have led Hialeah's police department to align with federal efforts.
One resident, Juan Santana, urged citizens at the council meeting to avoid speaking to the police. citing constitutional rights, as reported by CBS News Miami. The 287(g) program allows state and local police to function similarly to federal immigration agents, a measure that has been expanded by Gov. Ron DeSantis to all 67 county sheriffs in Florida.
Hialeah Police Chief George Fuente clarified that officers would not ask for immigration documents during routine traffic stops. "This agreement will have me select however many officers I select to train, to allow to be trained, by immigration, to understand their protocols and what can and can’t be done when it comes to certain operations that they perform," Fuente said, as reported by Local10 News.
Hialeah's decision to cooperate with federal immigration efforts follows the lead of other South Florida cities such as Davie, Sunny Isles, and Coral Gables. As Hialeah joins several other cities in this cooperation, it becomes part of a broader Florida trend, placing the city on a federal list of departments participating in the 287(g) program.
