Florida has become the first state to enter into an agreement with the Trump administration that allows all local and state law enforcement to carry out federal immigration duties.
All 67 county sheriff’s departments across the state have signed what are known as 287(g) agreements with the federal government that permit nonfederal law enforcement in the Sunshine State to perform some immigration responsibilities.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), joined by Keith Pearson, Department of Homeland Security senior counselor, announced that the partnerships would go well beyond turning over illegal immigrants in local jails.
“This is not just saying, ‘Oh, if there’s an illegal alien in our jail, then we’ll like let [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] pick them up.’ Obviously you got to do that,” DeSantis said during a press conference in South Florida’s Homestead on Wednesday evening. “It’s also not saying that, ‘Oh, we’ll honor a detainer or a warrant.’ Of course you have to do that.”
“This is a task force model which will lead to street-level enforcement operations,” DeSantis added.
Under Section 287(g) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, ICE may delegate limited authority to state and local law enforcement officers to perform specific immigration functions under ICE oversight.
Under the Florida 287(g) agreements, local and state police will conduct street operations targeting suspected illegal immigrants. Officers who do not cooperate could face penalties, DeSantis added.
“In Florida, we have an enforceable duty to help and to be a part of the solution. And this task force model means we’re not just going to say, ‘OK, you know, if you’re here illegally, unless you end up in jail, we’re not going to do anything,” said DeSantis. “There will be operations on the street. That’s how we’re getting these illegals.”
The move further expands the number of police and military in the country able to arrest illegal immigrants in the United States, a day-one promise of President Donald Trump.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had been scheduled to speak at the press conference but was redirected to Kentucky at the last minute. Pearson, who attended in her place, noted that each Florida sheriff’s willingness to sign the agreement was voluntary and further explained how the agreements would be carried out through a three-pronged approach.
“The warrant service officer model program allows ICE to train and authorize state and local law enforcement officers to serve executive administrative warrants on aliens in their custody,” Pearson said.
“The jail enforcement model is designed to identify and process removed … aliens with pending criminal charges who are arrested by state and local law enforcement, and then the task force model serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies, enabling them to enforce immigration violations in their routine police duties,” Pearson added.
Florida immigration czar Larry Keefe said the goal was to make Florida a leader among states in carrying out Trump’s immigration objectives.
“We like to compete with Texas, Oklahoma, the other states. We are ready to be the No. 1 state, the bellwether, the leader of the Florida blueprint on how you do it,” Keefe said at the press conference.
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The partnership is eligible for some federal reimbursement. The Florida legislature also just passed $250 million this year to supplement the operation.
The move is expected to upset Democrats concerned that local and state police have no authority to carry out immigration orders.
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