Protesters outside St. Petersburg City Hall oppose the city’s ICE partnership on May 16, 2026. Photo by Daria Mironova/WMNF.
A small but determined group of protesters gathered outside St. Petersburg City Hall last Saturday. They renewed calls for city leaders to end cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities through the 287(g) program. The Tampa Bay Immigrant Solidarity Network and the End 287(g) Committee organized the gathering. They said the demonstration was part of an ongoing campaign to remain visible, vocal, and consistent in showing support for immigrant communities.
Two police officers in a golf cart monitored the protest from across the street. Demonstrators held signs and repeated “No hate. No Fear. Immigrants are welcomed here” chants. They directed their message at Mayor Ken Welch and Police Chief Anthony Holloway.
What is the 287(g) agreement
The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement agencies to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreements give certain officers authority to carry out immigration enforcement duties.
New data shows ICE agents in Florida have made more immigration arrests this year than any other region in the country. As of March 10, the Miami ICE field office made over 9,800 arrests, averaging about 120 per day. Statewide totals are not yet available.
Local voices
For protesters in St.Pete, the demonstration was about maintaining public pressure.
“We are here today because we want our presence to be continuously seen and heard about how much we are against the 287(g) agreement,” said protester Anoosh Mohsin.
Mohsin described the agreement as “unethical and immoral.” She said it effectively turns local police into immigration agents.
“This agreement allows local police to act as ICE agents, deport, arrest, or detain anyone under suspicion of being an undocumented migrant,” Mohsin said. “A lot of these arrests are exceptionally violent. They are literally separating families from each other, destroying our community.”
For Mohsin, the issue is personal.
“Anyone being detained, any migrant brother, any migrant friend – it is a personal story,” Mohsin said. “A lot of these arrests are made literally on suspicion, because somebody’s accent is not the same as you’re used to hearing,” Mohsin said.
Lamark Stillings, another protester, said many of the people affected by immigration enforcement are not strangers.
“Growing up in the Tampa Bay area, a lot of my friends and community members were people who maybe didn’t have the clearest immigration status,” Stillings said. “When I see someone getting taken off the street, it’s not just another person. That’s my neighbor. That’s my best friend.”
Stillings said City Hall was chosen intentionally.
“This is the symbolic center of St. Pete’s city government,” he said. “Mayor Ken Welch has the capacity to get rid of the 287(g) agreement here, but he is actively choosing not to do so.”
The protest is part of an ongoing effort by immigrant rights advocates in Tampa Bay. They say showing up consistently matters, even with smaller crowds.
“Every human being deserves dignity,” Stillings said. “Right now, we seem to want to strip dignity from them. So, it’s up to us as everyday citizens to stand up for them.”
Though small, the gathering carried a message of persistence. Moreover, the community advocates said they plan to continue demonstrating until St. Petersburg ends its participation in the 287(g) program.
For those in attendance, the debate over immigration enforcement is deeply personal and far from over.
For more information about the End 287(g) campaign, visit their website.