Florida Increases Funding for Law Enforcement to Combat Illegal Immigration
On Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside his Cabinet, greenlit $90 million in grants aimed at bolstering local law enforcement’s efforts against illegal immigration. This funding is part of an ongoing initiative to equip agencies with essential tools necessary for effective enforcement.
The approved budget will be distributed as new and enhanced grants to 56 police departments across the state. These funds will be allocated for a variety of equipment, which includes radios, body cameras, riot gear, ballistic helmets, X-ray machines, and inmate restraint chairs, enhancing the overall operational capabilities of these agencies.
This funding decision was unanimously endorsed by DeSantis, Attorney General James Usmayer, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who comprise the state’s Immigration Executive Committee.
Out of the total allocation, $30.3 million will be new grants, with an additional $57 million earmarked for law enforcement agencies that have previously applied for support. Among the most significant funding requests came from the sheriff’s offices of Orange County and Polk County.
Orange County’s proposal requests $10 million, focusing heavily on equipment upgrades, particularly $9 million for the procurement of 910 handheld radios. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office also submitted a $10 million request, with $8.7 million allocated for encrypted radio equipment and servers—to improve communication with ICE agents, as their current radios lack encryption.
The request specifically notes that these upgrades will facilitate communication with ICE, thereby enhancing officer safety and protecting sensitive information during operations.
In the Panhandle region, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office is set to invest approximately $9 million, which includes over $2.5 million dedicated to implementing a rapid DNA testing system along with 2,000 specialized DNA-treated swabs. The request emphasizes that swift DNA results will expedite detention and processing times, ultimately freeing up resources for more critical enforcement and investigative endeavors.
Similarly, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office has requested over $8 million, with about $5 million earmarked for communications upgrades, including radio enhancements. Additionally, the county has allocated $600,000 for the acquisition of two SkyWatch mobile towers aimed at improving situational awareness and supporting immigration operations.
To date, the state has approved a total of $147 million in immigration enforcement grants, distributing roughly $5 million to 25 local agencies, as reported by Transparency Florida. Moreover, lawmakers have earmarked $250 million for 2025 to assist local law enforcement with expenses related to illegal immigration enforcement, which includes compensation for overtime for personnel involved in operations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Furthermore, the board has extended an emergency rule permitting agencies that have agreements with ICE to utilize funds for the purchase of vehicles. Local law enforcement agencies are now authorized to acquire one multi-person van designated for transporting individuals between county, state, and federal detention facilities.
