Hundreds of protesters gathered in Cocoa on June 14 to demand ICE leave Brevard County and end 287(g) agreements that allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The Space Coast Immigrant Rights Alliance (SCIRA) organized the rally as part of the Legalization 4 All network’s weekend of action against detention centers. Demonstrators chanted “Free our people, free them all!” and showed solidarity with hunger strikers at Delaney Hall and Adelanto detention centers in California. Zaki Ahmed of SCIRA said the group has spent months building ties with immigrant communities through volunteering and neighborhood outreach in areas affected by Florida’s deportation operations.
Carlos Barreto of Orlando Against Police Crimes spoke about how immigration enforcement ties into broader state violence, citing Orlando’s ongoing fight against a proposed ICE facility in Lake Nona. Edmund Anglero of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization emphasized a working-class strategy to advance immigrant rights. The rally marked SCIRA’s first self-directed event after months of participating in other organizations’ protests.
Ahmed detailed SCIRA’s focus on grassroots organizing and its plans to expand services for immigrants facing deportation. The group has criticized 287(g) agreements involving Brevard’s sheriff’s office and municipal police forces. “We’re not just protesting,” Ahmed said. “We’re building long-term solutions.”
The event drew dozens of participants, many wearing “ICE out now” signs. Organizers said the rally reflects growing local opposition to federal immigration policies and the county’s role in enforcement. Similar protests are planned in nearby counties this week.