In a recent turn of events, the city in Florida decided to reverse its earlier stance on cooperating with federal immigration authorities, leading to significant public outcry shortly after an initial vote.
The lead commissioner in West City unexpectedly supported renewed collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration efforts during a vote on Tuesday, which was a shift driven by pressure from state officials.
Just a week prior, the city’s committee had voted 5-1 to terminate the contract under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program, which had previously allowed local authorities to work alongside federal agents.
The major commission voted 4-2 to restore the agreement that had been nearly dismantled during an emergency meeting on July 8, 2025.
ICE has yet to respond to requests for comments from Fox News Digital.
Commissioner Reset Carrey, who initially opposed scrapping the program, shifted her stance during the latest meeting. “We have to adhere to state and federal laws,” she said. “I was taken aback that my colleagues didn’t grasp the gravity of ending this agreement.”
As the decision was made, tension filled the room, with several attendees expressing their frustrations before leaving in protest.
The other commissioners, including Monica Haskell, Samuel Kaufman, Donald Lee, and Aaron Castillo, did not immediately respond to inquiries. Commissioner Mary Lou Hoover chose not to comment.
City police chief Shawn Brandenburg faced some scrutiny alongside the commissioners, especially regarding the validity of the initial agreement.
“I found the commissioners’ position puzzling, suggesting the agreement hadn’t functioned from the outset,” Carrey stated.
With the latest vote, there was an attempt to clarify the legality of the initial contract, which had been signed by the police chief rather than the mayor. “I wanted to ensure everyone understood the process,” Carrey noted, explaining that traditionally, the mayor should sign such contracts.
City officials informed Carrey that having the police chief sign a memorandum is generally accepted practice.
“The commissioner who brought up the amendment was told to change ‘return’ to ‘enter,’ which indicated that the contract was not valid from the get-go,” she added.
Both the Barroso administration and police chief Brandenburg did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comments.
The shift followed mounting pressure from Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration, which had criticized local leaders and warned of consequences if the decision was not overturned. Florida Attorney General James Usmier had previously stated that the city violated state law with its vote to nullify the 287(g) agreement, indicating that they had established an illegal sanctuary city.
Uthmeier informed the committee that they had the option either to allow law enforcement to enforce immigration laws or face penalties. Carrey thought that the committee took the warning seriously, leading to an emergency meeting to rectify the earlier vote.
Following the reversal, Uthmeier commended the commissioners for their decision, saying it was encouraging to see Key West heed the warnings.
While the city of South Miami is currently suing the DeSantis administration over new liabilities imposed on local governments about cooperation with ICE, Key West’s committee has opted not to join the lawsuit.
With the agreement now reinstated, local law enforcement will continue to support immigration enforcement across the city.
Interestingly, while some residents believed this wasn’t in the city’s best interest, Carrey mentioned that she had spoken to legal immigrants who were upset about the recent actions taken. “At least when our local law enforcement engages with ICE, they know some of the legal immigrants personally,” she expressed.
Reflecting on her own family history, Carrey shared that her mother immigrated from Cuba at the age of seven. “My mother came here to escape communism with her brother and grandparents,” she said. “It’s crucial to uphold the law and support those who immigrate legally for the safety and security of our community.”
