Holocaust Memorial and Immigration: Hallandale Beach’s Commitment to Law and Order

This Monday marked the 80th Anniversary of the Remembrance of the Holocaust. As the daughter of a WWII veteran, I believe it is equally important to remember the many veteran “liberators”—just as we honor them on Veteran’s Day in Hallandale Beach.

It is a tragic truth that America largely stood by while the horrors of the Holocaust unfolded. Winston Churchill pleaded for our country to intervene as Europe fought against Hitler and Nazi extremism.

My father rarely spoke about the war until his late seventies. It was at an event at our wonderful Chabad that he met a group of Holocaust survivors. One survivor approached him, thanked him for his service, and called him a WWII hero for helping to end the war and liberate the camps. That moment profoundly changed my father’s perspective. Like many soldiers, he had carried painful and guilt-ridden memories. These few words of gratitude lifted a weight from him, allowing him to finally speak about his experiences. Over the course of fifty-four missions, he had bailed out twice and was awarded two Purple Hearts.

Commitment to Holocaust Education

Over the past year, witnessing the misguided actions of some pro-Palestinian youth has strengthened my resolve to ensure the younger generation learns the facts about hatred and antisemitism. I can only imagine what my father would say about such ignorance. Fortunately, we have the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in nearby Dania Beach.

As Holocaust survivors pass away, it is vital to preserve and share their stories. The Nazis used propaganda and lies to fuel hatred against Jews and other marginalized groups—history that must be taught. Florida law mandates Holocaust education in schools, but efforts have fallen short since COVID-19.

I am partnering with the center and retired teacher Marilyn Santiago to ensure our students visit and learn from this important resource. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please reach out to me.

A Non-Partisan Fight Against Antisemitism

As Jews, we must recognize that combating antisemitism is not a partisan issue—it requires support from all individuals, regardless of political affiliation. We collectively failed to protect our college campuses from antisemitic rhetoric. Hate speech is not free speech when it incites violence and discrimination. Every student deserves a safe learning environment.

I support cutting public funding to institutions that spread misinformation and hate. A close friend and former mayor of Philadelphia, who teaches at Columbia University, has confirmed that many agitators on campuses are not even students but individuals stirring unrest.

Immigration and Law Enforcement

Recent political changes in our country have sparked a renewed focus on law and order. Following the presidential election, where President Trump won by a close margin, many Americans are calling for stronger enforcement of immigration laws. The era of lax law enforcement and excessive leniency is over.

If someone is in the country illegally, it is against the law. If they commit a crime, they should be jailed. If they are both undocumented and criminals, they should be jailed and deported. This is common sense. The commitment to cracking down on undocumented immigration is affecting cities nationwide.

This past weekend, during the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Winter Leadership Meeting, we discussed key issues such as housing, infrastructure, and immigration. While the organization is non-partisan, mayors have varying positions on immigration. However, the majority of cities are not sanctuary cities. Hallandale Beach has never been one.

We uphold the laws of our country, state, and city. Our city has taken a firm stance on law and order—if you break the law, you will be arrested. Our police officers make arrests, but criminals are then processed into the Broward County system. In 2019, the Broward County Sheriff’s Department (BSO) entered into an agreement with ICE to facilitate the transfer of specific individuals for removal upon their release from custody. It is crucial to ensure that these agreements are being followed.

I have scheduled a meeting with the Chief and City Manager to further educate myself on this critical issue. Our top priority is the safety of our residents. As a smaller public safety organization, diverting our resources to federal immigration enforcement could jeopardize our ability to handle local crime, such as theft, robbery, and domestic violence. However, if an undocumented individual is arrested, they will be processed and reported to BSO.

Moving Forward

This is just the beginning. We will closely monitor new policies and regulations, as well as potential funding changes to our infrastructure programs. I will continue to keep our residents informed.

As always, I am available for your questions, concerns, and ideas to improve our city. You can reach me at:
📞 Phone/Text: (954) 632-5700
📧 Email: [email protected]
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