Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier threatens to remove Key West officials from office after their illegal declaration as a sanctuary city, marking a direct confrontation between state law enforcement and local governance over illegal immigration policy.
Key Takeaways
- Key West commissioners voted to end their partnership with ICE’s 287(g) program, effectively declaring the city a sanctuary for illegal immigrants in violation of Florida law.
- Attorney General James Uthmeier warned city officials they face civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office, if they don’t reverse their decision.
- Florida state law explicitly prohibits sanctuary policies and requires local governments to assist federal authorities with immigration enforcement.
- Recent arrests in the Florida Keys involving illegal aliens with criminal histories highlight the public safety concerns driving the state’s stance.
- Similar confrontations have occurred in other Florida cities, with Fort Myers eventually complying with state law after receiving warnings from state officials.
Florida AG Issues Stark Warning to Key West
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has delivered a decisive ultimatum to Key West officials following their recent vote to terminate the city’s agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The city commission’s decision to end participation in the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to perform certain federal immigration duties, has placed Key West in direct violation of Florida law prohibiting sanctuary cities. Uthmeier’s response demonstrates the state’s zero-tolerance approach to local governments attempting to shield illegal immigrants from federal enforcement.
“The City of Key West violated state law when they voted to void the Key West Police Department’s 287(g) agreement with ICE. We will not allow this unlawful sanctuary policy in Florida. They have a choice: stop impeding law enforcement from enforcing immigration law or face the consequences,” stated James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General.
Legal Consequences for Non-Compliance
In his strongly worded letter to city officials, Uthmeier made it abundantly clear that Key West’s actions have effectively transformed it into a sanctuary city, a status expressly forbidden under Florida statutes. The Attorney General’s office emphasized that by declaring the police department’s existing 287(g) agreement void, Key West has placed itself in direct conflict with state law. This conflict carries serious repercussions for the officials involved, with Uthmeier explicitly warning that continued defiance would trigger enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties.
“Failure to take corrective action will result in enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office,” warned James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General.
The gravity of these consequences reflects the state’s commitment to enforcing Governor Ron DeSantis’s 2019 law banning sanctuary jurisdictions. This legislation mandates that all local law enforcement agencies in Florida must cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The standoff in Key West represents a significant test case for the state’s authority to compel local compliance with its immigration enforcement policies, particularly in areas where local sentiment may diverge from state-level directives.
City Officials Defend Their Position
Key West officials have justified their decision by expressing opposition to supporting mass deportation efforts and highlighting the importance of asylum seekers in their community. Commissioner Samuel Kaufman articulated this perspective during commission deliberations, emphasizing the human element in the immigration debate. Meanwhile, City Attorney Kendall Harden has attempted to frame the issue as a procedural matter, claiming the agreement was void due to lack of formal approval rather than an intentional creation of a sanctuary policy.
“People who are seeking political asylum are important members of our community. We have thousands of them here, by the way. And they deserve the respect that anybody else does,” stated Commissioner Samuel Kaufman.
However, the Attorney General’s office remains unmoved by these arguments, insisting that state law unequivocally mandates local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Uthmeier has pointed to recent arrests in the Florida Keys involving illegal aliens with criminal histories as evidence of the necessity for such partnerships. This case reflects the broader national tension between jurisdictions seeking to protect immigrant communities and state or federal authorities determined to enforce immigration laws consistently. The precedent set in Key West could influence how other Florida municipalities navigate these conflicting pressures.
Precedent for Enforcement
This is not the first time Florida state officials have confronted local governments over compliance with immigration enforcement requirements. A similar situation unfolded in Fort Myers, where the city council initially rejected participation in the 287(g) program but eventually reversed course after receiving warnings from Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Uthmeier. That outcome suggests the state has both the legal authority and political will to enforce compliance with its anti-sanctuary city policies, potentially foreshadowing how the Key West situation may resolve.
“Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) is putting the city of Key West on notice after commissioners recently voted to end their partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, through the 287(g) program, despite legal requirements in place under state law,” stated James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General.
The Key West dispute illustrates Florida’s comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement under the leadership of President Trump’s allies in state government. By threatening to remove elected officials who defy state immigration laws, Florida demonstrates its commitment to a unified enforcement strategy that aligns with federal priorities. As this conflict develops, it will likely establish important precedents for how states can enforce compliance with immigration policies across all levels of local government, potentially influencing similar disputes nationwide.
