Doral denies councilwoman's effort to discuss ICE agreement
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Councilwoman Maureen Porras wants to discuss the city's ICE agreement. Photo: Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The City of Doral denied a councilwoman's attempt to discuss the city's 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at its next meeting, a move the councilwoman says violates the city charter.
Why it matters: The effort comes a week after the midterms, during which Doral residents rebuked Republican policies and candidates.
- A slim majority of supported both Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon and gubernatorial nominee David Jolly after supporting Trump by 23 points in 2024.
The latest: Councilwoman Maureen Porras on Tuesday requested a discussion item about "rescinding" the city's 287(g) agreement be placed on the Nov. 18 meeting.
- That afternoon, city attorney Lorenzo Cobiella denied her request, stating it was submitted outside of the required 14-day deadline "for items with a fiscal impact."
- Cobiella also said the city has already requested a legal opinion from the attorney general about its ICE partnership and should wait for that.
The other side: Porras disputed Cobiella's reasoning, stating the city charter allows agenda items to be submitted seven days before a council meeting, according to the email exchange shared with Axios.
- "The real reason [they're blocking it] is they don't want to have a public discussion," Porras told Axios Thursday. "I don't think it has to do with procedure."
Flashback: Doral entered into the agreement, which empowers a municipality's police department to help enforce federal immigration laws, in April 2025, following the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and other police departments.
- At the time, the DeSantis administration threatened to remove elected officials from office if the city refused to partner with ICE.
The big picture: Porras proposed the discussion because she's spoken with many residents "who've expressed concern" about the program and the "strict immigration enforcement" in Doral, she told Axios.
- Doral, home to the nation's largest Venezuelan community, has faced continued immigration crackdown efforts, resulting in many residents fleeing and others in hiding.
What's next: Porras already requested the item be placed on the December meeting, per email records. If denied, she told Axios, she plans to seek possible legal challenges.