KEY WEST, Fla. — Key West resident Marilyn Kellner and Kristen Batiste-Frazee of the Justice for Immigrants Coalition in Marathon are organizing a campaign calling on Key West to rescind the Police Department’s 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They are asking residents to contact the mayor, city commissioners and police chief; personalize and send the sample letter below; share the resolution on social media; and attend the Oct. 1 commission meeting.
Their campaign follows a separate appeal from the Interfaith Ministerial Alliance of Key West. In a message to city commissioners, alliance President the Rev. Madeline Baum described growing fear among immigrant families and urged the city to end its participation in federal immigration enforcement. Click here to read the transcript of the Interfaith Ministerial Alliance of Key West’s message to the commission.
The Justice for Immigrants’ Coallition organizers’ complete call to action, proposed resolution, sample letter, supporting information and contact list follow:
Stand Up for Democracy Resolution
A local group of concerned citizens has created the Stand Up for Democracy Resolution to send a strong message that we will not stay silent or tolerate ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Law Enforcement Officers violating our constitutional rights and terrorizing Key West and Florida Keys residents.
We must stand together.
We ask you to take a simple step. Call and/or email your Key West Commissioner, the Mayor, and the Key West Chief of Police and ask them to support and pass a resolution that reflects our community values. It does not matter whether you think your commissioner agrees, nor the mayor and police chief because they will welcome the input. We plan to gather and then attend the next city commission meeting on October 1 to let the commission know we want to end the Key West Police Department’s cooperation with ICE and the 287(g) agreement.
Here’s what you can say in an email or conversation. Feel free to personalize. The text in the box may be cut and pasted.
Key West Police Chief, Mayor, and Commissioners
Dear [Mayor, Chief, and/or Commissioner],
Hello, I am a resident of Key West and have lived here since {xxxx.} I am writing/calling to express my concern about ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents terrorizing our community, engaging in violence acts against residents, and trampling our constitutional rights in collusion with local law enforcement.
ICE and CBP are making us less safe, harassing citizens, and unlawfully detaining hard-working immigrants who have no criminal record.
[If you are a business owner impacted by ICE, mention it.]
[Add a personal story, feelings such as your immigrant story, a family member that has been abducted, something that has happened to you or you witnessed here, or a few stats.]
I urge you to support the Stand Up for Democracy Resolution that would state the following:
Affirm the commitment to uphold the constitutional rights and speak out against brutality by law enforcement of citizens, legal immigrants, undocumented immigrants, visitors from other countries, and all people in Key West.
Focus on apprehending criminals, not law-abiding persons.
Denounce the detention of our immigrant neighbors without due process.
Demand all law enforcement officers and ICE, and Customs and Border Patrol agents wear clearly visible identification.
Forbid all law enforcement officers and ICE, and Customs and Border Patrol agents from wearing masks or other attire that hides identity.
Express concern for residents’ privacy and provide transparency regarding the data collected and shared by roadside cameras with unknown entities.
I look forward to hearing back from you on this issue. Thank you.
Sincerely
[Your Name]
CITY KEY WEST CONTACTS
Click on links to email or for more info:
Key West Mayor and Commissioner Contacts (group email)
305 809-3844
Sam Kaufman, Mayor
District I City City Commissioner Monica Haskell
District II City Commisioner Mark Rossi
District III City Commissioner Donald “Donie” Lee
District IV City Commissioner Lissette Carey
District V City Commisioner Chris Massicotte
District VI City Commissioner Aaron Castillo
Chief Sean T. Brandenburg; 305-809-1111
Important Links For You
Please share and spread the word! Short link for this document.
It’s a great time to check your voter registration at the Supervisor of Elections Office or www.iwillvote.com. Remember, if you want to vote by mail in 2026, you must re-register and request your ballot by Oct. 22.
Examples and data to incorporate in your conversations and emails:
You may think you don’t see ICE in our community but they are everywhere.
Here’s documented evidence of immigrant abductions and ICE sightings. Latinos unidos en los Cayos de la Florida and 50501 Key Largo Instagram.
They’ve Done Everything Right And They’re Still Being Detained, Rolling Stone Magazine, featuring Key West Immigrant Support Network.
Immigration Enforcement Surges In Key West as Haiti’s Crisis Deepens
Big Day for Border Patrol: At Least Eight Detained in Key West. Video captures forceful takedown outside Tavern ‘n Town; identities and immigration status remain unconfirmed.
Less than 14% of those arrested by ICE have criminal records
ICE Arrests Soar as People With No Criminal Record Are Increasingly Targeted; The Miami Herald investigation found that officers are often taking whoever they can — including immigrants with work permits and pending asylum cases, spouses and parents of United States citizens, workers with no criminal records, and, as in the case of the woman in scrubs, U.S. citizens.
Organized by the Justice for Immigrants Coalition. Questions? Text 305.417.8851. Join us on Facebook.
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