PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Top members of law enforcement agencies across Palm Beach County are expressing their concerns with a controversial new plan to relocate hundreds of illegal immigrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
The Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police wrote a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, strongly opposing the move and saying it'll provide challenges for agencies in the county.
🔽 READ THE LETTER 🔽
The letter reads in part:
"Our members have very strong concerns relating to the impact of such an operation where 14,000 migrant family units per year may be flown into South Florida, transported to Riviera Beach, processed and released into our communities as they wait for their court hearing and processing."
The association goes onto say:
"This action will surely task all of law enforcement in our communities. This unfunded mandate will change the challenges for every agency who today are already challenged with the influx of undocumented migrants that continue to land on our beaches in South Florida."
The letter says the influx of migrants will present challenges to the Palm Beach County School District, as well have a major effect on law enforcement officers in carrying out their primary function.
The letter ends:
"With this in mind, the Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police and all of our member agencies strongly oppose this resettlement plan and operation."
RELATED: Gov. DeSantis says Florida "cannot accommodate" surge of illegal migrants
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office tells WPTV that Chief Angel Belen of the U.S. Border Patrol traveled from Miami twice this week to meet with Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and the Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police.
The association sent a separate letter to Chief Belen, saying the resettlement and processing plan is not the solution, and adding that:
"This plan to transport migrants to South Florida and release them into our communities pending their court hearings would significantly affect the public safety resources in our cities and in Palm Beach County."
NEW: In a letter by the Palm Beach County Association of Chiefs of Police, officials informed @GovRonDeSantis yesterday that 14,000 migrant families per year may be flown to South Florida, processed and released into the communities as they wait for court hearing and processing. pic.twitter.com/068XPP7X2w
— Wanda Moore (@WandaMooreWPTV) May 17, 2019