TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County Indivisible is set to host a first-of-its-kind forum next week to present the Tallahassee community with “factual information” about what kind of immigration enforcement has or hasn’t occurred in Florida’s Capital City, according to the organization’s founder, Cheryl Gratt.
Among the forum panel members will include the number one or two at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabeth Ricci, an immigration law expert, student representatives and a family member impacted by ICE.
“When immigration policies are enforced in our community, residents have the right to know exactly how and why. Democracy does not function in the dark. Policies like SB 168 and 287(g) affect real families in Leon County, and our community deserves clear answers and direct accountability from those in power,” Gratt said.
Immigration enforcement has caused a schism in Tallahassee, generally considered a progressive dot in a conservative state. Earlier this year, the Leon County Commission voted 6-1 to accept a grant from Florida’s immigration board to reimburse the sheriff’s office for the costs it incurs enforcing immigration law.
Early in the second term of President Donald Trump, a large-scale immigration raid temporarily halted construction of a student housing project in College Town.
The Tallahassee Police Department has signed a 287(G) agreement with ICE under which one detective is cross-trained to conduct immigration enforcement. The Tallahassee City Commission agreed to keep that agreement in a narrow 3-2 vote.
A review of daily booking reports shows the sheriff’s office often “holds for ICE,” usually in the context of another criminal charge. However, WCTV has observed instances in which someone is arrested for a driving violation, like driving on a suspended license, and ends up in ICE custody. Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 25, some 26 people have been booked into jail on immigration violations in Leon County.
That includes at least one charge brought by the Florida A&M University Police Department. Gratt said she expects nervous students to be in attendance next week.
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Gratt is unabashedly opposed to President Trump, but she hopes next Wednesday’s forum is “activism for busy people.” She said Leon Indivisible wants to provide more context about civil versus criminal immigration violations and monitor the potential development of immigration detention centers in the area.
Even finding a place to hold the meeting has been tough, Gratt said. When Leon Indivisible restarted after President Joe Biden left office, she said the religious institution they had been meeting at didn’t allow further meetings. In trying to find a space big enough to host a forum, Gratt said some venues turned them down for fear of retaliation.
The event takes place on March 4 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 2725 Graves Road. Gratt said all city and county commission candidates are welcome to participate in a meet and greet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and current incumbents are also welcome to attend.
Gratt said City Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter have agreed to attend, as has Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor.
Tune into Eyewitness News at 5 and 6 p.m. to watch the full story. This article will be updated later this evening with more details.
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