We, the undersigned residents of Tallahassee, urge the City Commission to revoke the 287(g) agreement that authorizes local law enforcement to act as immigration officers under the oversight of ICE.

We are in a grave and critical moment. ICE’s actions have become increasingly aggressive, lawless, and dangerous, marked by intimidation, fear, and violence that fall far outside the norms of professional law enforcement. In recent weeks, ICE agents have been observed using chemical agents on observers and protesters, stopping vehicles at random, racially profiling individuals at workplaces and public spaces, forcing entry into homes without warrants, and pointing weapons at peaceful demonstrators. These actions have endangered immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.

Tallahassee should not align itself with, or assign a single officer to assist an organization that operates in ways inconsistent with the standards that our own Tallahassee Police Department is required to uphold. The 287(g) program blurs the line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement, eroding trust within immigrant communities and undermining community policing efforts that rely on cooperation and mutual respect. 287(g) agreements divert local resources away from core public safety functions to carry out federal immigration responsibilities that belong at the federal level.

We call on the Tallahassee City Commission to rescind the 287(g) agreement and allow our police department to focus solely on protecting and serving the community. Ending this agreement affirms our commitment to safety, justice, and unity for all who call Tallahassee home.