Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that Florida has entered into a groundbreaking Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), making the state one of the first in the nation to empower its law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration enforcement duties.
Under the agreement, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will be trained and authorized to execute 287(g) authority, a provision of federal immigration law that allows state and local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE in identifying and detaining individuals who violate U.S. immigration laws.
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“Florida is proud to lead the way in protecting our communities and upholding the rule of law,” Governor DeSantis said during the announcement. “This partnership with ICE ensures that our state troopers have the tools and authority they need to keep dangerous criminals off our streets and out of our country. We will not stand idly by while the federal government fails to secure our borders.”
The 287(g) program, established under the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement responsibilities to state and local law enforcement agencies. Through this agreement, Florida Highway Patrol troopers will receive specialized training from ICE to carry out specific immigration enforcement functions, including identifying, detaining, and processing individuals who are in the country illegally.
The MOA grants the Florida Highway Patrol expanded authority to:
- Interrogate and Detain: Troopers can question individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally and detain those found to be in violation of immigration laws.
- Arrest and Process: FHP officers can arrest individuals attempting to unlawfully enter the U.S., including through Florida’s ports of entry or coastal waters, and process them for federal immigration violations.
- Execute Warrants: Troopers are authorized to serve and execute arrest warrants for immigration-related offenses.
- Prepare Charging Documents: State law enforcement can prepare immigration charging documents for ICE review, speeding up the deportation process for individuals already in custody.
- Transport Detainees: FHP will have the authority to transport detained individuals to ICE-approved facilities, preventing their release due to overcrowding in local jails.
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Governor DeSantis emphasized that the agreement is a critical step in addressing the ongoing border crisis and its impact on Florida.
“For too long, the federal government has failed to secure our borders, allowing dangerous criminals to enter our communities,” he said. “This partnership ensures that Florida can take action to protect its citizens and uphold the rule of law.”
The agreement is expected to enhance public safety by enabling state law enforcement to identify and remove criminal aliens who are already incarcerated before they are released back into the community.
It also aims to streamline the deportation process, ensuring that individuals who violate immigration laws are swiftly processed and removed from the country.
The Florida Highway Patrol will begin training under the 287(g) program in the coming weeks, with the goal of fully implementing the agreement by early next year. Governor DeSantis has also indicated that additional state law enforcement agencies may be included in the program in the future.
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