Miami-Dade Commissioner Voices Concern Over ICE: "My Wife Got an Immigration Letter"

With tears in his eyes and a quivering voice, Miami Commissioner Rolando Escalona disclosed to the Miami Herald on Thursday that his family has experienced the fear that grips thousands of immigrants in the city: his wife received an immigration notice that left them sleepless for an entire week.

"Three weeks ago, my wife received an immigration letter," Escalona revealed during a City Commission meeting where the controversial collaboration agreement between the Miami Police Department and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was under discussion. "We couldn't sleep for a whole week," he added.

Legal Resident Caught in Immigration Anxiety

The commissioner's wife, who is a legal resident in the United States, had been summoned to provide her fingerprints to federal authorities—a procedure that would typically be routine, but which now causes fear among immigrants, as several have been detained during similar appointments at federal offices.

Born in Cuba, Escalona arrived in the United States 12 years ago. Before being elected in 2025 to represent District 3, which includes historic immigrant neighborhoods like Little Havana, he worked as the general manager of Brickell's Sexy Fish restaurant.

A Personal Account of Immigration Fear

Now a U.S. citizen, Escalona speaks with an accent and is the father of seven-month-old twins born in the country. "Two weeks after they were born, I went to get their passports because I was scared," he confessed.

His story underscores how deeply the fear of immigration issues has permeated even those with legal status or citizenship, highlighting the repercussions of the 287(g) agreement that the City Commission approved on June 17, 2025, by a narrow three-to-two vote.

Controversial Agreement Sparks Debate

This agreement allows two Miami Police Department detectives to act as immigration agents under ICE's direct supervision.

City Manager James Reyes clarified to the commission that these detectives perform immigration duties only when necessary, not on a full-time basis, and that the police have issued only 14 immigration detainer orders, all stemming from criminal investigations.

"In no way, under any circumstances, are we interested in the immigration status of individuals in our community," Reyes stated. "But if you commit a crime in the city of Miami—whether you're here legally or not—we will come after you."

Community Reaction and Potential Legal Challenges

During Thursday's meeting, dozens of residents demanded that Miami withdraw from the agreement. Commissioners Escalona, Christine King, and Damian Pardo—the commission's majority—expressed their desire to exit the agreement if it could be done without legal repercussions. However, the city's attorney, George Wysong, cautioned about potential retaliation from the state of Florida.

This threat is substantial: Florida leads the nation with 375 active agreements between ICE and local law enforcement agencies, as reported by the Miami Herald.

Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier have threatened legal action against cities that oppose these agreements.

Increasing ICE Actions Intensify Fear

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that ICE arrests of Cubans surged by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026, with Miami's ICE office leading the nation in immigration arrests, averaging about 120 detentions daily.

As Escalona pointed out, the issue transcends the agreement's text: it is about "the fear we see in our community," a fear that no longer distinguishes between undocumented immigrants and legal residents, or even between citizens and elected officials.