Lake Worth Beach urged to rethink PBSO contract extension over fears of immigration crackdown
It's all about ICE and allowing anyone to enter our country uninvited
Immigrant rights groups on Thursday gathered outside Lake Worth Beach City Hall to decry the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office 287(g) enforcement agreement with federal immigration authorities.The groups are urging members of the Lake Worth Beach city commission to reject a proposed 10-year contract extension with the sheriff's office.
Their argument: “Lake Worth Beach has an opportunity to decide what kind of community it wants to be,” said Renata Bozzetto, Deputy Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, (a group that wants all people to live and work without fear) “A 10-year law-enforcement agreement that expands collaboration with federal immigration authorities deserves far more scrutiny than a routine contract renewal."
"We have hundreds of families who are [being] separated, hundreds of kids who are left without a mom and a dad who are either in detention or deported at this moment," Bozzetto said. "It's hurting the community on a daily basis."
Lake Worth contracts with PBSO for 24/7 public safety services. PBSO provides everything from top command officers to school crossing guards, allowing the city not to have to fund its own police department.
The Lake Worth Beach city commission is expected to discuss the proposed extension with PBSO on Aug. 18.
The city will also supply a dedicated local district office for the assigned deputies. Annual cost could total nearly $16 million for the contract. Additional law enforcement services are billed at hourly rates of $142 for a deputy and $183 for a sergeant.
Read about it...




