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Dem City Council members hold hands, cry during vote against helping ICE, AG follows with swift justice

March 19, 2025 | | Print Article

Democrats in Fort Myers, Florida put on a performance worthy of an award during a meeting to decide whether to let Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) train local police.

The city council was voting to decide if ICE should train local authorities on immigration enforcement operations when they found themselves split three to three. The Democrats on the council held hands and wiped away tears as they made excuse after excuse for why they weren’t able to stand behind the motion.

“It is a tumultuous day and age, and it is a day that I hate sitting in this seat, but my city is not for sale,” Darla Bonk said.

Bonk gripped fellow councilwoman Diana Giraldo, who tearfully interjected her own immigration status into the discussion.

“I can’t stand behind this as an immigrant, the only immigrant sitting in this council,” she said. “Although this isn’t about me, I have been in that position, and I can’t even express how heavy this is in my heart and in my mind, knowing that the majority of us that come as immigrants, we don’t come here to commit crimes.”

The deadlock didn’t sit well with Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier, who wasn’t swayed by the tears.

“Today, I sent a letter to the Fort Myers City Council. Sanctuary policies are illegal in Florida. Your vote last night makes you a sanctuary city. Fix this problem or face the consequences,” he wrote in an X post.

Social media users had his back:

Sierra Marlee
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