Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) led a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen and the General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily W. Murphy, urging them to expeditiously resolve the concerning conditions at an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch office in Miramar, Florida.
Joining Hastings as co-signers of the letter include: Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Frederica Wilson, and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz. (Please find below and attached a copy of the letter):
June 15, 2018
The Honorable Kirstjen M. Nielsen
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Lane, SW
Washington, D.C. 20528
The Honorable Emily W. Murphy
Administrator
U.S. General Services Administration
1800 F Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20405
Dear Secretary Nielsen and Administrator Murphy:
As Members of the Florida Delegation, we are following up on the concerning conditions at an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch office located at 2805 SW 145th Avenue in Miramar, Florida (Miramar ICE Facility). On February 27, 2018, we wrote to Administrator Murphy expressing our concerns with the operations at the Miramar ICE Facility, specifically noting that the programming and service changes at the location resulted in various parking and safety challenges, as well as humanitarian concerns – lack of shelter, water, and restroom availability for the 250-300 patrons standing in line outside for hours.
While we have been working with ICE and General Services Administration (GSA) officials to secure an adjacent parking lot, as well as correct the other pressing issues at the Miramar ICE Facility – schedule reporting times, providing outside restrooms, and access to water and shelter – there have been no discernable changes on the ground. On May 31, 2018, ICE and GSA officials briefed Members of the Florida Delegation on their ongoing efforts, but failed to provide a timeline for when GSA can procure the adjacent parking lot, install a water fountain and provide cover to outside of the building. Separately, the City of Miramar is working with the private property owner to place temporary canopies outside. We hope that ICE and GSA will continue to work with the City to accomplish this goal.
It is also our understanding that the Miramar ICE Facility is the only reporting office in the South Florida area for the non-detained, with the next closest located in Orlando, Florida. The patrons visiting the Miramar ICE Facility are travelling from counties well beyond the Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade area. Given South Florida’s immigrant population and the hundreds of patrons visiting the Miramar ICE Facility daily, we believe it is necessary to open an additional facility in the South Florida region. It is our understanding that there is a reporting facility located at 8860 Salrose Lane, Fort Myers, FL 33912, but that it is not open for public use.
Given that it is summer in Florida with temperatures reaching into the high 80s and low 90s, and with Hurricane Season having begun, we urge you to resolve this issue expeditiously. We ask you to provide a timeline for securing the adjacent parking lot, installing a water fountain outside, putting up an awning outside the building, and providing greater access to restrooms. Additionally, we ask you to provide us with information for why the Fort Myers facility is not open for public use, and how Congress can assist in ensuring its opening.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress
Bill Nelson
United States Senator
Marco Rubio
United States Senator
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Member of Congress
Frederica Wilson
Member of Congress
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.
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