Governor Ron DeSantis announces additional Memoranda of Agreement between Florida Law Enforcement and ICE

Press release from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis directed Florida law enforcement to enter into additional Memoranda of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to execute functions of immigration enforcement within the state.

“Florida is setting the example for states in combating illegal immigration and working with the Trump Administration to restore the rule of law,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “By allowing our state agents and law enforcement officers to be trained and approved by ICE, Florida will now have more enforcement personnel deputized to assist federal partners. That means deportations can be carried out more efficiently, making our communities safer as illegal aliens are removed.”

At the direction of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Florida State Guard entered into this agreement to authorize state law enforcement under 287(g) to be trained and approved by ICE to perform immigration enforcement duties.

Since signing an agreement last week, Florida Highway Patrol has already executed their agreement with ICE. Additionally, the Florida Department of Agricultural Law Enforcement also entered into this agreement with ICE.

Agreement Overview

ICE will delegate the authority to state law enforcement and the state guard to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight. This includes identifying and removing already incarcerated criminal aliens who are eligible for removal before they are re-released into the community.

Agreements will also give state law enforcement and the state guard expanded power and authority to:

• Interrogate any suspected alien or person believed to be an alien as to their right to be in the United States. If they are found to be in violation of proper immigration status, they will be further detained and processed for State or Federal criminal offenses.
• Arrest and detain any alien attempting to unlawfully enter the United States, such as through ports of entry or via waters off of Florida’s coastline;
• Deliver detained illegal immigrants, without any unnecessary delays, for examination by immigration enforcement authorities for further screening;
• Enforce felony arrests which are cognizable under any federal law regulating the admission, exclusion, expulsion, or removal of aliens;
• Have the power to serve and execute warrants of arrest for immigration violations; and
• Be authorized to administer oaths and to take and consider evidence to complete required alien processing to include fingerprinting, photographing, and interviewing, as well as the preparation of affidavits and the taking of sworn statements for ICE supervisory review.

Today’s agreements mean that state law enforcement and the state guard will have the power and authority to issue immigration detainers and begin establishing records of deportable or inadmissible aliens. This process of preparing charging documents ahead of time for the review of ICE officials will allow for the speed-up in the deportation process and the quicker removal of dangerous illegals already detained in police custody. Once charged, state authorities will also be empowered to maintain custody of aliens arrested pursuant to immigration laws and transport such aliens to ICE-approved detention facilities – instead of being forced to release them due to overcapacity.

More information on the agreement can be found here.