On Wednesday, Punta Gorda City Council will vote on whether to approve an agreement allowing certain police officers to be trained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The proposal aligns with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and follows a similar measure recently considered by the City of Fort Myers, which failed in a 3-3 council vote.
If approved, the agreement would allow select Punta Gorda officers to receive ICE training and carry out certain immigration enforcement duties within the city. However, the debate over the proposal has sparked some controversy.
In Fort Myers, the measure failed Monday night after public opposition and a split vote by council members Terolyn Watson, Darla Bonk, and Diana Giraldo, who rejected the agreement.
Now, Mayor Kevin Anderson has suggested the Fort Myers council could revisit the decision before its April meeting.
Meanwhile, Florida’s Attorney General has threatened legal action against Fort Myers, arguing that failure to approve the agreement could classify the city as a sanctuary city.
Gulf Coast News will be inside the Punta Gorda Council meeting as we wait to hear what the council members decide as they begin at 9 a.m.
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