TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 The Leon County Sheriff’s Office will be reimbursed for immigration operations from state funds, following a vote by Leon County Commissioners Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
That decision passed in a 6-1 vote but not without reluctance from Commissioners. Commissioners and LCSO staff were clear that the vote would not affect whether LCSO would carry out the state-mandated enforcement but only how it is funded. Watch the video below for a breakdown of the funds. <\/p>\n
Leon County approves funds for LCSO to be reimbursed for immigration enforcement<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:<\/p>\n
I’m Mayor Sargent in Downtown Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
We’re at the Leon County Commission meeting Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Commissioners voted to approve state funds to be given to the sheriff’s office to enact state-mandated immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n
But that was not without reluctance from the commissioners themselves and some pushback from the community.<\/p>\n
A reluctant vote from the Leon County County Commission to approve half a million state dollars to reimburse the sheriff’s office for state-mandated immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n
By accepting this money, LCSO will receive money for things like overtime and training for designated officers and transportation on behalf of ICE between local, state, and federal facilities.<\/p>\n
“For me, this whole year has been a tragedy for the U.S. and it’s run by an agency that’s operating outside of the law, even though they claim to have complete immunity,” said neighbor Robert Kessler. <\/p>\n
The vote did come with some pushback. <\/p>\n
Some neighbors urged commissioners to not accept the money.<\/p>\n
While the funds require a vote of approval by the County, state-mandated immigration enforcement carried out by the Sheriff’s Office is not contingent on this vote, just how the work is funded. <\/p>\n
“If we vote ‘no’ on this item Leon County taxpayers pay for it. If we vote ‘yes’ on the item, then Leon County taxpayers get reimbursed,” said Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban. <\/p>\n
“I’m voting ‘yes’ because while I can’t reduce ICE operations in Leon County, I can take this step, so that Leon County taxes aren’t paying for it,” said Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor. <\/p>\n
Commissioner David O’Keefe voted against approving the funds.<\/p>\n
“Accepting this money to me means agreeing to participate in a system that robs people of their humanity and makes no one safer,” said O’Keefe. <\/p>\n
Even though Commissioner O’Keefe dissented, the funding was ultimately approved in a 6-1 vote by commissioners for the sheriff’s office.<\/p>\n
In Downtown Tallahassee, Maya Sargent, ABC 27.<\/p>\n
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