The Tampa Bay Immigrant Solidarity Network & residents of St. Petersburg, respectfully urge the Chief of Police Anthony Holloway to terminate the St. Petersburg Police Department 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This program deputizes local police officers to act as federal immigration agents, diverting resources away from the community and leads to unnecessary detentions and deportations, separating families and destabilizing our community.

The Issue:

The 287(g) program has been shown to cause significant harm in communities across Florida and the nation:

• Harms Families and Children: Local police collaboration with ICE leads to cruel and unwarranted deportations, destroying communities in the process.

• Encourages Racial Profiling: Studies and advocacy groups have documented that 287(g) agreements exacerbate racial profiling, resulting primarily in the arrests of individuals with no criminal background.

• Violates Human Rights: Through the system of incarceration and deportation, 287(g) agreements enable the erosion of the rights of the community.

• Diverts Local Resources: Officers trained under 287(g) spend time and taxpayer money enforcing federal immigration law instead of focusing on local priorities such as violent crime. Every hour spent on 287(g) is an hour taken away from protecting
  St. Petersburg residents.

• Undermines Local Autonomy: Florida law requires county jails to enter into 287(g) agreements, but cities like St. Petersburg are not obligated. By voluntarily participating, our city is choosing to expand a harmful program beyond what is mandated.

• Erodes Public Trust in Law Enforcement: When local police act as immigration agents, immigrant communities become fearful of reporting crimes, cooperating with investigations, or seeking protection. This undermines public safety for everyone.

Our Request:

We call on the Chief of Police Anthony Holloway to end the 287(g) agreement immediately.
St. Petersburg should not voluntarily participate in a program that undermines public safety, promotes racial profiling, and destabilizes families. By withdrawing from this agreement, the Police Department can reaffirm its commitment to protecting all residents equally and building trust across our diverse community.

St. Petersburg thrives when all residents feel safe, respected, and supported. Ending the 287(g) agreement is a necessary step toward ensuring that our police department serves the needs of our city, not the agenda of federal immigration enforcement.

Call to Action:

Help protect our community and sign our petition to urge Chief of Police Anthony Holloway to end the 287(g) agreement.