Key West Reverses Sanctuary City Status Amid Florida State Pressure

Key West, Florida, initially voted to become a sanctuary city by voiding its agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which would have ended cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. However, following intense pressure and threats from Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier, including potential removal of local officials from office, the city commissioners reversed their decision and reinstated the agreement. This allows local police to collaborate with ICE, including stopping, questioning, and detaining illegal migrants. The reversal sparked public outrage, with many residents and community members urging officials to wait for a judicial ruling on a related lawsuit questioning the legality of mandatory ICE agreements for municipalities. Commissioner Lissette Carey was the sole vote against ending the cooperation initially and later supported reinstatement, emphasizing the importance of following state and federal law. Controversy also arose over the agreement's validity due to procedural issues, as it was signed by the police chief rather than the city manager.