Latest news with #CoralGablesPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
MS-13 gang member arrested in Florida after attempted carjacking, police say
The Brief An alleged MS-13 gang member has been arrested in Florida following an attempted carjacking. MS-13 is a transnational criminal gang known for its extreme violence, including murder, extortion, racketeering and drug trafficking. The man arrested had just recently been released from prison for aggravated battery with a weapon. CORAL GABLES, Fla. - An MS-13 gang member and convicted felon was recently arrested in Florida following an attempted carjacking, police say. What we know A police officer with the Coral Gables Police Department said they responded to reports of a suspicious person on the morning of May 16 in the 1500 block of Red Road, Miami. The officer said a resident had been stopped at a stop sign when he was then approached by a masked man who attempted to take his car. The resident was able to get away and called the police. The man with the mask was arrested, and police said they recovered a gun, knife and mask. Dig deeper The suspect was later identified as 24-year-old Wilson Verela, a Honduran national. Police said the man had an MS-13 tattoo on the left side of his chest, and he later admitted to being a member of the notorious international gang. Investigators discovered Verela had also recently been released from prison for aggravated battery with a weapon. What's next Police said they are working with Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection to ascertain Verela's status in the United States. Verela is facing charges related to burglary of an occupied dwelling and position of a weapon and ammunition by a convicted felon. Big picture view MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s, composed primarily of Salvadoran immigrants. It's known for its extreme violence, including murder, extortion, racketeering and drug trafficking. The gang has expanded into Central America and various regions in the United States. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Coral Gables Police Department in an official arrest affidavit.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hialeah, city of immigrants, unanimously approves agreement to enforce immigration laws
Hialeah became Tuesday night the second city in Miami-Dade County to enter a partnership with the Trump administration to deputize local police officers to perform duties typically handled by federal immigration agents. The city council unanimously gave Mayor Esteban 'Steve' Bovo the green light to authorize a partnership agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with six members voting in favor and one absent. With the approval of Tuesday's resolution, the mostly Hispanic city, where a majority of residents were born outside the U.S., is now among the first jurisdictions in South Florida to localize the crackdown by President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis on illegal immigration. It's also a development in the city's evolving response to newly arrived immigrants that officials say have strained city resources. Bovo told the council the decision is a 'fine line in a city like this one that has been built by legal immigrants, a very fine line as opposed to illegal immigrants.... The person that comes into the country illegally, illegally has already violated our laws, the laws of this country.' Under the federal 287(g) agreement, which allows state and local police to assist ICE in immigration enforcement, Hialeah police officers will gain the authority to stop, interrogate and arrest individuals suspected of violating immigration laws. The decision comes days after the Coral Gables Police Department signed a similar agreement. 'The agreement does not weaponize our Hialeah Police officers against our city of Hialeah residents,' said Police Chief George Fuentes. It remains to be seen how the policy will play out in predominantly immigrant Hialeah, where five of the council members who approved the agreement are the children of immigrants, and the sixth was born in Cuba. Several residents denounced the agreement amid worries that recent arrivals to the United States, many of whom have made a home in Hialeah, will be targets. READ MORE: Hialeah, a city of immigrants, is set to have its cops take on immigration enforcement Fuentes told the council that he wants all victims and witnesses to report crimes and said the officers selected for the program will be trained 'to understand their protocols and what can or can't be done when it comes to certain operations that they perform.' According to Fuentes' interpretation, the agreement does not mean Hialeah officers are going to do immigration raids, or stop people and ask for their documents. However, the agreement signed between the department and ICE explicitly grants city officers the authority to interrogate anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. It also allows them to arrest individuals without a warrant, detain those attempting to enter or already in the U.S. unlawfully, execute immigration arrest warrants and prepare documents that initiate deportation proceedings for ICE. Officers are also authorized to take and maintain custody of those arrested on behalf of ICE. This isn't the first time Bovo and other Hialeah officials have taken a hard line on immigration and backed Trump's policies. When Trump visited the city for a campaign event in 2023 and announced he would conduct mass deportations, Bovo announced at the rally that the city would be renaming its main street in honor of Trump. Days later, the council unanimously renamed Palm Avenue Donald J Trump Avenue. In 2024, the mayor claimed that 80,000 Cubans had arrived in the city and strained local resources. He compared the influx to the 1980 Mariel boatlift, which brought 125,000 Cuban refugees to Florida. In response, the city council voted to formally criticize the Biden administration's 'open border policies' and urged the federal government to implement stricter immigration measures to address the surge in migrants to northwest Miami-Dade. On Tuesday, Hialeah residents shared their concerns with the council before its members voted on the agreement with the feds They said that in a city where residents predominantly have roots in Cuba, leaders have fast-tracked a deal that could jeopardize the future of immigrants who call the city home. Since coming into power, the Trump administration has moved to terminate the legal status of hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians. 'I urge you, my city council, to not terrorize your own community with this wasteful, harmful, and unnecessary agreement, ' said Tony Marcial Olivera, 21. He pointed to Justice Department investigations and academic research that shows that 287(g) agreements have led to extreme racial profiling and discrimination towards Hispanics. Residents argued that the partnership with ICE would be costly for Hialeah and make the city less safe because people will not come forward to report crimes. 'What happens when a victim of domestic violence is scared to report?' said Jacqueline Gilbert. 'What about when a victim of a crime is scared to report because they are scared to be detained?' One of the residents told council members the decision on an immigration agreement should be put on the ballot, and leave to residents to decide if city resources should be used to 'deport their neighbors, family and friends.' Local law enforcement agencies can enroll in one of three 287(g) models. Hialeah and Coral Gables opted into the Task Force model, which allows police officers to conduct immigration enforcement functions during routine work. ICE describes the model as a 'force multiplier.' Florida's 'sanctuary city' law requires local law enforcement agencies to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Bovo told reporters that Hialeah must cooperate with the state's decree and that he doesn't see any difference between how Hialeah police operate now with the federal government. 'The police have always cooperated, but I think it's also important to point out to people that our police will not be arresting people or asking for documents.' Bovo said. 'That's not our role, and I don't see that as their role.' Bovo, once again pointed fingers at the Biden administration as the reason for the influx of undocumented immigrants in Hialeah. 'How many additional people do we have who don't have papers, who don't have that status?' he said. 'We understand why they come sometimes, but the reality is that they're here illegally.'
CBS News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Coral Gables police partners with ICE, sparking community backlash
The Coral Gables Police Department has signed an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to train officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions, a decision that has drawn criticism from residents, activists and business owners. Community pushback Opponents of the agreement argue that it goes beyond what is required by law and could erode trust between police and immigrant communities. "Nothing in state law, federal law, or even in the contract they signed required Coral Gables to do this," said Alana Greer, a resident who spoke at a press conference outside a city commission meeting. Juan Cuba, a member of the Miami Freedom Project and a Coral Gables resident, echoed those concerns. "Coral Gables Police should be focused on looking out for the community, not enforcing immigration laws or doing ICE's job," he said. Police chief defends agreement Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak pushed back on criticism, insisting that the department would not actively seek out undocumented immigrants. "We do not profile people, we never have," Hudak told the city commission. He cited past incidents in which Chinese nationals were smuggled into the U.S. through Coral Gables, arguing that the partnership would allow local officers to take action instead of waiting for federal agents. "If I can access that through this agreement and partner with [ICE], why would I not want to do that to protect our local community?" Hudak said. City leadership stands behind decision Mayor Vince Lago also backed the agreement, emphasizing its focus on individuals with criminal backgrounds. "The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that if there's a person who committed a crime in this community or outside and illegally entered this country, they're removed," Lago said.
Miami Herald
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Hialeah, city of immigrants, unanimously approves agreement to enforce immigration laws
Hialeah became Tuesday night the second city in Miami-Dade County to enter a partnership with the Trump administration to deputize local police officers to perform duties typically handled by federal immigration agents. The city council unanimously gave Mayor Esteban 'Steve' Bovo the green light to authorize a partnership agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with six members voting in favor and one absent. With the approval of Tuesday's resolution, the mostly Hispanic city, where a majority of residents were born outside the U.S., is now among the first jurisdictions in South Florida to localize the crackdown by President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis on illegal immigration. It's also a development in the city's evolving response to newly arrived immigrants that officials say have strained city resources. Bovo told the council the decision is a 'fine line in a city like this one that has been built by legal immigrants, a very fine line as opposed to illegal immigrants.... The person that comes into the country illegally, illegally has already violated our laws, the laws of this country.' Under the federal 287(g) agreement, which allows state and local police to assist ICE in immigration enforcement, Hialeah police officers will gain the authority to stop, interrogate and arrest individuals suspected of violating immigration laws. The decision comes days after the Coral Gables Police Department signed a similar agreement. 'The agreement does not weaponize our Hialeah Police officers against our city of Hialeah residents,' said Police Chief George Fuentes. It remains to be seen how the policy will play out in predominantly immigrant Hialeah, where five of the council members who approved the agreement are the children of immigrants, and the sixth was born in Cuba. Several residents denounced the agreement amid worries that recent arrivals to the United States, many of whom have made a home in Hialeah, will be targets. READ MORE: Hialeah, a city of immigrants, is set to have its cops take on immigration enforcement Fuentes told the council that he wants all victims and witnesses to report crimes and said the officers selected for the program will be trained 'to understand their protocols and what can or can't be done when it comes to certain operations that they perform.' According to Fuentes' interpretation, the agreement does not mean Hialeah officers are going to do immigration raids, or stop people and ask for their documents. However, the agreement signed between the department and ICE explicitly grants city officers the authority to interrogate anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. It also allows them to arrest individuals without a warrant, detain those attempting to enter or already in the U.S. unlawfully, execute immigration arrest warrants and prepare documents that initiate deportation proceedings for ICE. Officers are also authorized to take and maintain custody of those arrested on behalf of ICE. This isn't the first time Bovo and other Hialeah officials have taken a hard line on immigration and backed Trump's policies. When Trump visited the city for a campaign event in 2023 and announced he would conduct mass deportations, Bovo announced at the rally that the city would be renaming its main street in honor of Trump. Days later, the council unanimously renamed Palm Avenue Donald J Trump Avenue. In 2024, the mayor claimed that 80,000 Cubans had arrived in the city and strained local resources. He compared the influx to the 1980 Mariel boatlift, which brought 125,000 Cuban refugees to Florida. In response, the city council voted to formally criticize the Biden administration's 'open border policies' and urged the federal government to implement stricter immigration measures to address the surge in migrants to northwest Miami-Dade. 'Do not terrorize your community' On Tuesday, Hialeah residents shared their concerns with the council before its members voted on the agreement with the feds They said that in a city where residents predominantly have roots in Cuba, leaders have fast-tracked a deal that could jeopardize the future of immigrants who call the city home. Since coming into power, the Trump administration has moved to terminate the legal status of hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans and Haitians. 'I urge you, my city council, to not terrorize your own community with this wasteful, harmful, and unnecessary agreement, ' said Tony Marcial Olivera, 21. He pointed to Justice Department investigations and academic research that shows that 287(g) agreements have led to extreme racial profiling and discrimination towards Hispanics. Residents argued that the partnership with ICE would be costly for Hialeah and make the city less safe because people will not come forward to report crimes. 'What happens when a victim of domestic violence is scared to report?' said Jacqueline Gilbert. 'What about when a victim of a crime is scared to report because they are scared to be detained?' One of the residents told council members the decision on an immigration agreement should be put on the ballot, and leave to residents to decide if city resources should be used to 'deport their neighbors, family and friends.' Local law enforcement agencies can enroll in one of three 287(g) models. Hialeah and Coral Gables opted into the Task Force model, which allows police officers to conduct immigration enforcement functions during routine work. ICE describes the model as a 'force multiplier.' Florida's 'sanctuary city' law requires local law enforcement agencies to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Bovo told reporters that Hialeah must cooperate with the state's decree and that he doesn't see any difference between how Hialeah police operate now with the federal government. 'The police have always cooperated, but I think it's also important to point out to people that our police will not be arresting people or asking for documents.' Bovo said. 'That's not our role, and I don't see that as their role.' Bovo, once again pointed fingers at the Biden administration as the reason for the influx of undocumented immigrants in Hialeah. 'How many additional people do we have who don't have papers, who don't have that status?' he said. 'We understand why they come sometimes, but the reality is that they're here illegally.'
CBS News
25-02-2025
- CBS News
Suspected package thief nabbed in Coral Gables, linked to 15 cases, police say
A man accused of stealing packages from porches across Coral Gables has been arrested after police linked him to at least 15 thefts in the past month. Mario Sobalvarro faces felony burglary and theft charges after officers from the Coral Gables Police Department's Crime Suppression Team tracked him down Friday. Police said he was driving a Chevy Equinox with an illuminated "Uber" rideshare sign on the dashboard when they took him into custody. Investigators say Ring doorbell footage captured Sobalvarro stealing packages, including one containing a $60 skirt on Presidents Day. He was also caught on camera taking a package from another home just a block away, police said. For victims like homeowner Danny Catania, the arrest brought relief. "It's annoying, as it would be for anybody," Catania said. "The most recent package taken from me was a set of noise-canceling headphones for a newborn. We have a one-month-old baby girl; she needed those." With Sobalvarro in custody, Coral Gables police say they are stepping up patrols to deter further package thefts.
