This Wednesday, an immigrant rights coalition has launched a public campaign urging Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins to terminate the city's police collaboration agreement with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as reported by El Nuevo Herald.
Billboards and Radio Ads Targeting 287(g) Agreement
The Florida Immigrant Coalition has erected two billboards visible from I-95 at Northwest 62nd Street and from Southwest 17th Avenue and First Street in Little Havana. The campaign also features a Spanish-language radio ad titled "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," which criticizes Higgins for not taking stronger action to end the 287(g) agreement. This agreement allows local officers to receive federal training and operate under ICE supervision to question, arrest, and detain individuals suspected of violating immigration law.
"Miami cannot claim to be a welcoming city while its police department maintains an agreement that facilitates ICE collaboration," stated Thomas Kennedy, a coalition spokesperson, to the Miami Herald. He emphasized the critical nature of the situation, noting that "with Venezuelan and Haitian TPS holders facing the loss of their protections, what is at stake could not be more significant."
Mayor Higgins' Criticism Without Direct Action
The 287(g) agreement was approved by the Miami City Commission in June 2025, with a narrow three-to-two vote, before Higgins assumed office in December of that year. During her campaign, the mayor criticized the pact and vowed to "minimize any involvement." Following her election victory, she was emphatic: "There is no reason for Miami's police department to enforce federal immigration laws."
Currently, Higgins maintains that the decision rests with the five-member Commission, without which a vote cannot proceed. In a Saturday statement, she said: "Since my campaign and upon taking office, I have been clear with the community that we must treat all residents with humanity and dignity. That’s why I said the city should review the 287(g) agreement. Since then, the commission held a discussion in late June, and I am hopeful a legislative point will reach my desk for quick signing."
Three of the five commissioners expressed willingness in June to abandon the agreement, provided it can be done legally.
Pressure from Within the Democratic Party
State Representative Angie Nixon, who recently secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Florida, specifically called on Higgins to end the agreement during a press conference outside City Hall in early August. "We need to pay attention because some Democrats need the political courage to stand up and do the right thing," Nixon declared. "I urge Mayor Higgins and all city council members to terminate this agreement and start allowing people to be healthy, thrive, and feel safe."
Significant Arrests, Many of Cuban Descent
Although the city administrator reported in June that only two Miami Police officers were trained under the program, data reveals a substantial impact. According to a report on immigration arrests in Miami-Dade, from August 2025 to August 23, 2026, Miami Police made 451 arrests of migrants under this agreement, making it the agency with the most detentions in the county. Of those arrested, 131—approximately 29%—were of Cuban origin, and 35% of the detentions occurred after Higgins's election.
Increased Urgency Due to TPS Situation
Pressure on the mayor has intensified following the Supreme Court's decision to allow the Trump administration to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. An estimated 90,000 TPS holders reside in the greater Miami area. Higgins joined the mayors of Boston, Cincinnati, and Kansas City in filing amicus briefs with the Supreme Court opposing the termination, warning that Miami "would be particularly impacted" if TPS for Haitian nationals were rescinded.
Kennedy concluded with a direct plea: "Immigrant communities in Miami should not have to choose between calling the police and protecting their families from immigration consequences. Rescinding 287(g) would send a clear message that Miami police are here to protect everyone living in this city."
FAQs on Miami's 287(g) Agreement with ICE
What is the 287(g) agreement?
The 287(g) agreement allows local law enforcement officers to receive federal training and operate under ICE supervision to enforce immigration laws.
Why is there pressure to end Miami's agreement with ICE?
Critics argue that the agreement undermines Miami's status as a welcoming city and poses risks to immigrant communities, especially amid the loss of TPS protections for Venezuelans and Haitians.
How has Mayor Eileen Higgins responded to the 287(g) agreement?
Mayor Higgins has criticized the agreement and expressed a desire to minimize participation, but she maintains that changes require a vote from the city commission.