The recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti are a grim reminder of what happens when the lines of government authority get blurred. These deaths didn’t happen in a vacuum; they happened during a surge of federal agents into a city that already has its own leaders and its own police. I see this for what it is: a breakdown of the basic respect for local sovereignty.
Home rule is a simple idea: The people living in a community should have the greatest say in how it is run. When federal or state agencies move in and start taking the lead, that local voice is silenced. This isn’t just a legal argument — it’s a safety issue.
Joshua Simmons is a Coral Springs city commissioner.
Federal agents don’t answer to the local mayor or the city council. They don’t know the neighborhoods, and they don’t need to live with the consequences of their actions once the “surge” is over. This lack of accountability creates a powder keg. When the federal government treats a city like a battleground rather than a partner, it doesn’t bring order; it brings friction.
The responsibility to fix this rests on the federal government. We’ve seen a chaotic “heavy hand” approach that skips over state and local authority.
Federal agents occupying a city to enforce immigration law represents nearly the worst-case scenario for home rule. But let me be clear: While this situation has resulted in inexcusable deaths, the principle of local sovereignty matters in less dramatic circumstances too.
Every time the state legislature in Tallahassee tries to preempt our ability to set our own regulations, it violates the same principle. When the state blocks us from enacting our own gun safety measures, worker protections, affordable housing policies or environmental standards that our residents support, they’re telling us we don’t know what’s best for our own community. The stakes may differ, but the disrespect for local authority remains the same.
What we need is a framework that respects both federal authority and local sovereignty:
Coordination, not commandeering: Federal operations should notify and coordinate with local officials in advance, not treat them as obstacles to work around. Local leaders know their communities. That knowledge is an asset, not a hindrance.
Respect local resources: Local police shouldn’t be commandeered or pressured to become extensions of federal enforcement, especially when it comes to politically charged immigration issues. Cities must retain the right to set their own law enforcement priorities based on what keeps their residents safest.
Accountability for local impact: When federal actions result in deaths and serious injuries in a city, local and state authorities must be able to investigate. Right now, the federal government has essentially blocked state and local law enforcement from fully investigating these deaths and other horrendous injuries. This isn’t what coordinated federal law enforcement looks like in a functioning democracy. When immigration enforcement requires this level of military-style presence, operates with this much secrecy, and blocks local authorities from investigating deaths, we have to ask whether the goal is actually public safety or something else entirely. You can’t have authority without accountability.
The path forward is about exercising federal and state authority with respect for the local leaders who have to live with the consequences. Whether it’s federal agents in Minneapolis or state legislators overriding the decisions of Florida’s local leaders who know what is best for their municipalities, the principle remains: Communities govern themselves best when those closest to the people have the strongest voice.
I’ve spent my career fighting for that principle. It’s time for every level of government to remember their lane and respect others. That’s not just good governance, it’s how we prevent more tragedies and rebuild trust between the government and the people.
Joshua Simmons is a Coral Springs city commissioner.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/02/11/minneapolis-needs-home-rule-not-occupation-opinion/
