🚔 Main Squeeze: Immigration Enforcement Warnings Circulate After Port St. Lucie ICE Agreement

What's Going On: Warnings about increased immigration enforcement operations are circulating across the Treasure Coast this week, days after Port St. Lucie City Council approved an agreement authorizing local police to perform immigration functions alongside ICE.

By the Numbers:

• October 13: Port St. Lucie approved ICE partnership agreement

• Duration: Until either party terminates

• Authorization: 2-year certifications, renewable

• Training requirement: Pass exams equivalent to ICE officers

Money, Money, Money: The agreement approved October 13th commits Port St. Lucie taxpayers to cover salaries, benefits, transportation, and equipment for officers performing immigration enforcement duties. In return, the police department gains access to federal funding requiring an active ICE partnership.

What we're hearing: Social media warnings about heightened immigration enforcement presence have been circulating across the Treasure Coast this week.

The timing: The warnings come less than a week after Port St. Lucie became the latest Florida city to formalize a partnership with ICE through a 287(g) agreement. Under the agreement approved on the consent agenda October 13th, Port St. Lucie police officers can be trained and certified to perform immigration enforcement functions including interrogation, investigation, detention, and arrest.

How it works: Selected officers undergo mandatory federal training on immigration law, civil rights, and operational procedures. Once certified, they can interrogate anyone about their immigration status, arrest suspected undocumented individuals without warrants, issue immigration detainers, and transport people to ICE detention facilities. Officers work under ICE supervision when performing these functions.

The agreement details:

• Supervision: Officers work under ICE direction when doing immigration enforcement

• Liability: Officers treated as federal employees under Federal Tort Claims Act

• Complaints: Filed with ICE Office of Professional Responsibility or local Internal Affairs

Context: Florida law prohibits local governments from adopting "sanctuary policies" that limit cooperation with federal immigration agencies (Section 908.103). Section 908.104 encourages cooperation with federal authorities. The 287(g) program, authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended in 2002, allows local law enforcement to be deputized for immigration enforcement.

What happens next: The Port St. Lucie Police Department will nominate officers for ICE training. Chief Leo Niemczyk submitted the agreement to City Council as part of the city's mission to "enhance our community's safety."