A well-known Immokalee leader is raising concerns over Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk’s push for stricter immigration enforcement.
Danny Gonzalez, former president of the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, says most immigrants in the county are here to work, not cause trouble.
"I think in America, we have an opportunity. We have chances here. So, if I did something wrong, I can better myself. Maybe these people are trying to better themselves," Gonzalez said.
Rambosk presented his plan to Collier County commissioners on Tuesday, detailing his office’s efforts to identify and deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
“We identified 485 potential candidates for backgrounding and investigation,” Rambosk said.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is already part of the 287(g) program, which has deported more than 7,500 undocumented immigrants. However, Rambosk asked ICE and Border Czar Tom Homan for additional authority, including reinstating a "law enforcement investigative model" that would allow deputies to conduct background checks and flag more people for deportation.
Rambosk is also looking to reopen the Immokalee Jail Center as a holding facility for undocumented immigrants before deportation.
Gonzalez was not happy to hear that.
"This is not the place to do that. This is not New York. This is not Chicago. This is not Dallas. This is not the border. These people are here to work. That's an issue I have. The people who are here now are here to work," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez says most immigrants in Immokalee work hard to provide for their families, working in the fields before the sun even rises. He challenges anyone who supports stricter enforcement to see it for themselves.
"I want to see, you know, white American people coming to work those packing houses or get up at 5 in the morning, go work in the fields and see what it is. See what it is. Go tackle that and find out and let me know," he said.
Rambosk says he’s ready to move forward with tougher immigration enforcement in the county, but it’s up to state and federal lawmakers to clear the way.