Miami’s high-profile immigration partnership with federal authorities may be on shaky ground in theory, but at City Hall, no one is rushing to pull the plug.
Mayor Eileen Higgins said Tuesday that Miami could move to unwind the city’s controversial 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The catch is that any reversal would need approval from the City Commission, and commissioners say they have no plans to put that question to a vote.
Higgins Signals She Wants To Reverse Course
Higgins, who criticized the 287(g) deal during her campaign, told the Miami Herald the city "could" cancel the agreement but that doing so "would require a vote of the city commission." She added that ICE "has been here all year long" and said the agency's tactics have been "devastating to families," as reported by Miami Herald.
Commissioners Say They Won't Put It Back On The Docket
Several commissioners told the Herald they do not intend to bring a formal rescission to the floor, with Commissioner Damian Pardo calling undoing the agreement legally complicated. The same coverage notes City Attorney George Wysong warned that a vote against the pact could carry "real consequences," including potential losses of state or federal grant funding, according to Miami Herald.
How The Deal Came Together
The 287(g) task-force model was approved by the City Commission in a narrow 3-2 vote last June after hours of public comment and debate. That vote and the push and pull over state pressure and funding risk were documented at the time, according to Miami Today.
City leaders said the initial plan called for only a handful of Miami officers, roughly three, to be trained to work with ICE under supervision, a number reported by local coverage from WSVN.
Legal And Funding Risks Remain Central
City attorneys and police brass have repeatedly pointed to the legal and financial stakes as a reason the commission moved forward last year, and advocates note the broader political pressure from state officials. Past episodes in Florida, including intense state scrutiny after local decisions in Key West and other cities, have shown how high the stakes can be, according to reporting by Miami New Times.
For now, the mayor’s comments mostly set the tone: the executive can request reviews and lobby colleagues but cannot unilaterally cancel a signed federal memorandum. City Manager James Reyes has said the administration will be "evaluating" the agreement, and the City Commission is scheduled to meet this week at Miami City Hall. Any formal attempt to rescind the pact would have to be introduced and win a majority vote, per the city's meeting notice on the City of Miami website and local reporting.
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