Res No 028-17-14829and
RESOLUTION NO.028-17-14829
A Resolution creating policy to prevent the diversion of our police
force into duties related to immigration enforcement.
WHEREAS,South Miami standsasaunited community,neighbor supporting neighbor;
WHEREAS,significantnumbers of communitymemberswerebroughthereaschildren
bytheirfamiliesandhavegrownupasvaluedmembers of ourcommunity,irrespective of
official immigration status;and
WHEREAS,under current Federal law and Florida statutes,local law enforcement isnot
compelledtoparticipatein immigration-related investigations;and
WHEREAS,theU.S.SupremeCourt determined in2012thatstatelaw enforcement
doesnothavethe authority toarrestpeopleforprobablecause concerning violation of
immigration law (Arizona v.United States,567U.S.11-182);and
WHEREAS,the analysis of the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS)showed that
immigrants are only half aslikelytobe incarcerated asnative bom Americans,andhaveamong
the lowest delinquency rates of all young people;and
WHEREAS,general deportation hasnotprovenan effective method of protecting South
Florida from criminal behavior.Many countries won't take criminals back,and criminals so
frequently find their way back after being deported to countries thatwill receive them;and
WHEREAS,the South Miami Police Department (SMPD)exists toserveand protect the
safety of all people,homes,and businesses of South Miami,including our visitors and business
customers;and
WHEREAS,persons arrested and charged in South Miami are transported bythe SMPD
tothe Miami-Dade County Jail,where they fall under the policies of the County;and
WHEREAS,in 2013,the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a policy of
cooperation with Immigration services for individuals served with court-issued warrant or
charged with committing a serious felony determined tobearealor potential threat to public
safety felony oran unbondable offense;and
WHEREAS,County Mayor Carlos Gimenez recently wrote:"The Miami-DadeCounty
Police Departmentwillnotactivelyquestionorseekout anyone's immigrationstatus ";and
WHEREAS,the ability of the SMPD to protect our community depends ona spirit of
trust and cooperation between our police,residents,businesses,and visitors;and
WHEREAS,trust and cooperation between City police and residents,critical tothe
mission of theSMPD,maybesignificantlyerodedbythe redirection of ourmunicipalpolice
forceintoactingasagents of national immigration enforcement policy;and
Res.No.028-17-14829
WHEREAS,the International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP)affirmed:"...the
LACP has,andwillcontinuetostronglyopposeanyinitiativethatwouldmandatethatstateand
locallawenforcement agencies play aroleintheenforcement offederal immigrationlaw.The
IACPbelievesthattheissue of state,tribal,or local lawenforcement's participation in
immigrationenforcementisaninherently local decision thatmustbemadebylawenforcement
executives,workingwiththeir elected officials,community leaders,andcitizens."
WHEREAS,theCity Commission opposesthe diversion of our police forceinto
immigration enforcement duties which may undermine thetrustand cooperation needed tocarry
outits chartered mission of protection,and divert resources from criminal law enforcement.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,THAT:
Section 1,The above recitals aretrueand correct andare incorporated herein by
reference.
Section 2.It shall bethe policy of theCity of South Miami that,matters under the
purview of theU.S.Immigration andCustoms Enforcement (ICE),including the investigation,
arrest,detention,and deportation of individuals relating to immigration-related matters,
irrespective of actual immigration status,shallbereferredbytheSMPDtotheMiamiDade
CountyPolice Department relative tothese activities unlessa public safety emergency has
occurred or is eminent.
Section 3.Itshallbethe policy of theCity of South Miami that,unless specifically
required byanact of the Florida Legislature,theU.S.Congress,ora decision of thecourts:(1)
theSMPDshallnot enforce national immigration policyinthe normal course of duty;(2)the
SMPDshallnot inquire specifically intothe immigration status of an individual unless the
individualis believed or determined tohave committed aseriousfelony determined tobeareal
or potential threat to public safetyoran unbondable offense(apartfrom immigration),indicative
of anongoingthreattopublicwelfareorsafety.(3)theSMPDshallnotengagein joint
operations with another agency wherein members of the community aretobe screened or
arrested for their immigration status except where specific individuals,as identified above,are
sought;(4)theSMPDshallnotinitiateorcausetobeinitiatedan investigation,detainment,or
arrest of individuals for immigration-related offenses,exceptas determined bytheCity Manager
tobeabonafide emergency concerningspecificindividualssought through acourtorderor
soughtbylawenforcementforcommittingaseriousfelonyoranunbondableoffense(apartfrom
immigration).
Section 4.If any section clause,sentence,or phrase of this resolution isforany
reasonheldinvalidor unconstitutional byacourt of competent jurisdiction,theholdingshallnot
affectthevalidity of the remaining portions of thisresolution.
Section 5.This resolution shalltakeeffectimmediatelyuponadoption.
Page 2 of3
Res.No.028-17-14829
PASSEDANDADOPTEDthis 21sW of February 2017.
ST:APPROVED:
CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE,LEGALITY,
MAYOR'
COMMISSION VOTE 5-0
Mayor Stoddard:Yea
Vice Mayor Welsh:Yea
Commissioner Edmond:Yea
Commissioner Harris:Yea
Commissioner Liebman:Yea
Page 3 of3
Soutfr Miami •
<PTHECITYOFPLEASANTLIVING
OfFice of txe tflaYOH
16 February 2017
The accompanying resolution,which createspolicy related to how theSouth Miami
Police Department treats the subject of immigration enforcement,fitsintoboth national
andlocalcontexts and precedents.
Under current Federal law and Florida statutes,local law enforcement isnot compelled to
participate in immigration-related investigations.Further,TheUS Supreme Court
determined thatstatelaw enforcement doesnothavethe authority toarrestpeoplefor
probable cause concerning violation of immigration law (Arizona v.UnitedStates,567
U.S.11-182).
When an undocumented alienis charged with committing a serious felonyoran
unbondable offense,ourpoliceshouldcooperatewithotheragenciestoapprehendthe
individual,butthat need exists irrespective of the individual's immigration status:under
Article1 oftheU.S.Constitution,lawsappliedwithinourbordersmustapplyequallyto
everyone.
Thesemattersdonotstrikemeasabstractions-SouthMiamihasahistorythatI never
wishtoseerepeated.UnderapriorSouthMiami administration andPoliceChief,the
South MiamiPolice Department (SMPD)workedwithU.S.Immigration andCustoms
Enforcement (ICE)toinitiateorassistwiththeinvestigation,arrest,detention,and
deportation of Cityresidentson immigration-related matters.Inonecase,alegal
permanentresidentwithagreencardwasinvestigatedbytheSMPDonsuspicion of
immigration fraud.TheSMPD arrested theindividualinhishomeandhandedhimover
toU.S.Immigration andCustoms Enforcement (ICE)forprosecutionanddeportationon
immigrationcharges.Theindividualwasplacedinindefinitedetentioninaprivate
prisoninPalmBeachCountyandthefamilyhadtohireaprivateimmigrationattorneyat
theirownexpensetomountalegaldefense.Eventually,thecourtdismissedthecharge,
butonlyafterenormousemotionalandfinancialcosttotheindividual,thefamily,andthe
community.AnotherindividualwhohadlivedinSouthMiamifor 10 yearswithout
committing anycriminalact,wasarrestedbytheSMPD,handedovertoICE,detainedat
Krome forhalfayear,anddeportedto Canada inthemiddleofwinterwithnomoney,
and,withoutajacket.Onseveraloccasions,ICEwasinvitedtoparticipatein DUI
checkpointsrunbytheSMPD,causinggreat anxiety amongpeoplewhowerestoppedas
part of theDUIprocedure,andresultinginthearrestof individuals lacking proper
immigration status.
Sometimes ICEhasaskedourPolicetoentera resident's houseandarrestanindividual,
atgunpoint if necessary,andhandhimorherovertoICE.Suchactions,while
representing interagency cooperation,creates mistrust ofourPolice Department byCity
residents.Manypeoplecametoour community as immigrants,escapingoppressionin
City of South Miami|6130 Sunset Drive|South Miami,FL 33143-5093
305.663.6338 |southmiamifl.gov
theirhome countries,placeswherepoliceworkedagentsofa totalitarian regimeandwere
neither revered nortrustedbythe people.Many ofour residents would hesitate toreport
aminor infraction if theybelievedthe complaint mightresultintheindividual's
deportation backtothat country,andthey would mistrust ourownpolice department if
wewereseenas complicit insuchactions.
ForSouthMiamitoremainunitedasacommunity,wecannotallowdivisionstowiden,
we cannot turn against each other,andwemustbeabletotrust our own Police
Departmenttoprotectus.AllowingourPoliceDepartmenttobecooptedasthearmed
hand of apoliticallydivisivenationalmovementwouldbeantitheticaltoourheritageasa
nation of immigrants,ourunityasa community,our neighborly values,andultimately
our personal safety.
If ICEseekslocalmuscleandfoepowertoenforceimmigrationlaw,itcanfindaready
partnerintheCounty,wheretheMayorappearsmorepliantonsuchmattersthanmyself.
Thesameappliestodetention.A person arrestedonacriminaloffenseinSouthMiamiis
transportedbytheSMPDtotheCounty jail,wherethe State's Attorney takesover
regardingprosecution,andtheCounty's2013policyoncourt-orderedwarrantsand
undocumentedimmigrantcriminalsshouldapply.
Inthiscontext,Iproposethepolicyrevisionintheaccompanyingresolution.
Sincerely,
PhilipK.Stoddard,Ph.D.
Mayor