Immigrant rights advocates hold news conference after chaotic Miami-Dade commission meeting – NBC 6 South Florida

Immigrant rights advocates and members of the community held a press conference Friday after a Miami-Dade commission meeting erupted in chaos the day before.

The group spoke outside the Miami-Dade Government Center to “to denounce the shameful events that unfolded at Thursday’s County Commission meeting.”

Protestors clashed with authorities outside a Miami-Dade commission meeting on Thursday after the demonstrators said they were shut out of public comment on an agenda item about an agreement between county jails and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The item in question is resolution 11A, a proposal that would let the county hold immigration detainees for ICE in the jail for up to 48 hours and charge the federal government $50 per person.

But before any real debate could happen, commissioners deferred the item and shut the doors to the chambers.

NBC6 crews saw how a woman was grabbed by her hair and dragged out of the hearing by deputies as they were surrounded by a crowd. Then another person was taken to the ground.

Both people were detained, as others shouted that their voices were being ignored.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Thursday that the item came to the board for ratification, but that is no longer necessary because it is a required agreement.

“This is not something about which I have a choice, this is the law of Florida and it was required,” Levine Cava said.

Despite the legal obligation, Cava encouraged residents to share their views and concerns on the partnership.

After the scene erupted, commissioners reversed course and reopened public comment.

On Friday, immigration advocates said “over 100 residents had gathered to speak out against the County’s latest agreement with ICE. Instead, they were met with procedural manipulation by Commission Chair Anthony Rodriguez and violent treatment by law enforcement. To date, not a single elected official has condemned this behavior.”

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.