Updated at 6:54 p.m.
All personnel in a Florida city will now share all information about residents with federal authorities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A memo sent to all employees of the City of West Palm Beach by City Attorney Kimberly Rothenburg Tuesday afternoon reminds them “that you may share […] with authorities [including ICE] any and all information, including information regarding citizenship and immigration status, to which yo have access or knowledge.”
The Department of Justice and West Palm Beach announced Tuesday they will enter into a settlement agreement — which includes the sending of the memo — to prove compliance with federal immigration law.
The Justice Department earlier this year warned 23 jurisdictions around the country that they must turn over documents showing they are not acting as sanctuary cities or counties, or face a subpoena for those documents. According to letters sent out by the department, officials are looking for city or county codes and statutes, or city council declarations, showing they are in compliance with federal law that requires local officials to cooperate with the federal government on immigration matters. West Palm Beach was one of the 23 cities.
The Justice Department under Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made it clear that violating the law — 8 USC § 1373 — means jurisdictions could be stripped of federal grants, specifically those from the Byrne JAG grant program.
In February, the city sent documents to the Justice Department, which made way for “ongoing discussions,” Jon Adler, director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, wrote in a Tuesday letter to West Palm Beach Mayor Geraldine Muoio.
“In light of our ongoing discussions and your agreement to and sending of a memorandum to all employees stating that they are not restricted from sharing information with DHS, we find no evidence that you are currently out of compliance with section 1373. As a reminder, compliance with section 1373 is an ongoing requirement that the department monitors,” wrote Adler.
An administration official told the Washington Examiner Tuesday that the city’s announcement shows it is going to cooperate with ICE “in order to avoid a loss in the courts.”
“It is clear that the American people support the administration’s push to protect the public from cities and states that seek to put illegal aliens who have committed crimes back on our streets rather than in the custody of federal immigration authorities,” the official said.
West Palm beach has received more $400,000 in Byrne JAG grant awards throughout past five years.
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to say it was an administration official, not a DOJ official, who said the city’s announcement shows it is going to cooperate with ICE “in order to avoid a loss in the courts.”
