Immigration attorney warns both undocumented migrants and US citizens risk arrest during raids
Immigration attorney confirms deportations in Southwest Florida
Immigration attorney confirms deportations in Southwest Florida
Immigration attorney confirms deportations in Southwest Florida
ABC7 has confirmed federal immigration raids have begun taking place in Southwest Florida.
The crackdown comes as both the federal and now state governments are moving forward with plans to remove people in the U.S. illegally.
Phones were ringing off the hook Monday at the immigration law offices of Pedro Salim in Fort Myers, who confirmed some of his clients have already been taken into custody.
Salim described the mood in the migrant community as full of fear and anxiety as ICE begins raiding homes and workplaces.
“We already have been contacted by a couple of clients in SWFL in the Immokalee area that their family members were apprehended by ICE at their work or house, but these are people who have criminal history,” Salim confirmed.
Salim is issuing a strong warning for anyone in the company of undocumented migrants.
“If ICE has a warrant for an individual and you find yourself next to that person whether it be at work or home then ICE could detain you as well,” Salim stated.
It comes as ICE has reportedly arrested more than 1,000 undocumented residents.
Florida Republican State Senator Blaise Ingoglia warned Monday that the state plans to assist in the arrests.
“If there is a police chief in any town Florida and they are refusing to work with the federal government I would argue they are not doing their mandated duty to keep people safe and they probably should be removed from office,” Ingoglia said.
Democrats like State Representative Anna Eskamani said the state is moving too fast as they met in a special session Monday to adopt a bill that will assist the Trump administration.
“This is not how we should be governing. These are very complicated issues that require the public's engagement and attention,” Eskamani stated as she pointed out that the Florida bill had only been introduced Monday with little time to review it.
House Bill 1B is expected to be approved by republicans Tuesday. It calls for creating a new state office and chief immigration officer. The state also plans to spend more than $500 million of taxpayer money on immigration.
Republican State Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka announced she supports the bill and the special session to approve it.
“So that Florida can stand hand-in-hand with the Trump administration,” she said.
However, critics say state officials should be focused on bigger issues like the insurance and condo crisis.
When asked to respond to that; Persons-Mulicka said,
“Again, the people who sent me to Tallahassee sent me here with the same mandate they sent Donald Trump to the White House and that is to protect our communities,” Persons-Mulicka concluded.