Florida Law Enforcement Agencies Face Pressure on Immigration Enforcement
For over a year, Florida law enforcement agencies have been mandated by state law to support federal immigration enforcement efforts. However, several major sheriffs’ offices and police departments have yet to fully comply with these requirements.
During a recent meeting of the Immigration Executive Council, leaders from Florida’s law enforcement community expressed concerns about the engagement of certain departments with federal immigration policies, particularly those endorsed by Governor Ron DeSantis. They noted that some police departments have had minimal or no involvement with the directives stemming from the Trump administration.
Out of Florida’s 394 law enforcement agencies, 272 currently maintain active agreements under the 287(g) program. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), 163 of these agencies are labeled as “active,” having made one or more arrests related to this program, while the remaining 109 agencies have yet to make any arrests.
The council is preparing to send a letter to non-compliant agencies, urging them to adhere to state laws and assist in federal efforts to combat illegal immigration. The letter will also request monthly reporting of relevant data to FDLE.
“Our goal is to encourage compliance rather than publicly shame those who aren’t fully aligned with the law,” commented Polk County Sheriff and Council President Grady Judd. Council members are allowing agencies time to obtain necessary certifications and learn how to use Florida’s Illegal Alien Encounters Suspects Dashboard effectively.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, also a council member, emphasized the importance of following the law. “We need to do what is required,” he asserted, highlighting that non-compliance is no longer an option. Judd echoed this sentiment, urging local agencies to routinely check immigration status as part of their regular duties, without resorting to targeting specific communities or workplaces.
While state law necessitates that all county sheriff’s departments establish 287(g) agreements, FDLE notes that some counties have only minimal compliance. For instance, Broward County has an “active management” agreement but has registered only two of its 1,745 members as immigration officials, and has not submitted monthly reports.
While police departments are not legally obligated to enter into 287(g) agreements, Florida law mandates that they exert “best efforts” to assist in federal immigration enforcement. Notably, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, which employs 543 officers, currently lacks a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Of the 9,026 designated immigration officers in Florida, only 17% are from police departments. Anthony Coker, director of the State Immigration Enforcement Council, stated that law enforcement agencies without a 287(g) agreement or those that do not report data to the state will not be eligible for immigration enforcement grants.
Approximately $148 million has been allocated by the State Immigration Executive Board to bolster local law enforcement’s federal immigration efforts. To date, about $13.6 million of these funds has been distributed to 34 agencies, as reported by Transparency Florida, a state resource tracking government expenditures.
