CAIRO, Ga. (WALB) - The Cairo City Council voted Monday night not to approve a proposed Memorandum of Agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following significant public input from community members.

Concerned citizens packed the council chambers ahead of the vote, voicing concerns about the potential impact of the agreement on the community and local resources.

The proposed 287(g) Memorandum of Agreement would have allowed Cairo police officers to serve as field officers under ICE with certain limitations.

City officials, including the Cairo Police Chief, said community feedback played a major role in the council’s decision.

>>FULL MEETING CAN BE WATCHED HERE:<<

“The law is very specific, as to what the law enforcement agency shall do. It chose that terminology for a reason. It locks my hands as to what I must do. So, you are the one that decide whether to ratify it or not. The law specifically says what I must do,” the police chief told council members during the meeting.

Several residents also expressed concerns about the financial and personal impacts they believed could result from the agreement.

“Most of the funds to run this program specifically come out of local budget and comes out of taxpayer dollars. In 2018, Gwinnett County in Georgia, taxpayers spent $9.8 million dollars in a period of eight years. These people’s future is at stake and you have the power to make the right decision,” one speaker said.

After hearing from residents and city officials, the council overwhelmingly voted not to move forward with the agreement.

Although the agreement was not approved, city officials said Cairo will continue to comply with all current legal requirements and will cooperate with ICE when required by law.

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