GPD now requires officers to report contact with ‘suspected unauthorized aliens’
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gainesville Police Department has issued a new General Order that requires all sworn officers to report contacts with anyone who is suspected of being an unauthorized alien, whether or not that person is being arrested for criminal charges.
Click here to read General Order 82.4
The order, dated August 27, 2026, states that personal characteristics such as limited English proficiency are not sufficient to warrant an investigation, but if that person runs, for example, that “may contribute to reasonable suspicion.” Officers are permitted to conduct a consensual encounter to obtain additional information, whether or not there is reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.
FDLE form must be submitted, whether or not the person is being arrested
If an officer reasonably suspects that an individual is an unauthorized alien and the person is not being arrested, the officer must complete an FDLE form (Suspected Unauthorized Alien Contact Form), upload a photo of the individual, and email the form to a GPD address by the end of the shift on the day of contact.
If an officer reasonably suspects that an individual is an unauthorized alien and the person is being arrested, the officer must complete the same form, upload a photo, and email it for approval; in addition, the officer must add a note to the arrest report: “FDLE NOTIFICATION – FSS 908.1031, Suspected Unauthorized Alien.“
Supervisors at GPD will have six days to review and approve the submitted forms, and monthly summary reports must be submitted to the State Board of Immigration by the 15th day of the following month.
Arrests for ICE detainers must be performed by ASO
If an officer conducts a wants/warrants check while speaking to an individual and discovers an immigration warrant or ICE detainer, the officer must detain the individual and request assistance from a Designated Immigration Officer (DIO) at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO). The Order states, “Only a DIO can enforce a civil immigration warrant when no other criminal charges exist.”
A DIO is an officer who has been authorized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to perform specified but limited immigration law enforcement functions within the scope of a 287(g) agreement. GPD does not have a DIO.
An “unauthorized alien” is defined as a person who is unlawfully present in the U.S. according to the terms of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. ss. 1101 et seq. and s. 908.111(1)(d), Florida Statutes.
Officers are required to immediately notify specific entities at GPD if human trafficking is suspected.
Let’s see how this works out for the lefties. I can hear the whistles now.
Lawyers and landlords will starve! 🙃🙃
How about making immigrants wear a Star of David like emblem to make it easier on police, is that where we’re headed?
This disingenuous comment reflects stunning ignorance. A better idea would be to encourage legal immigration, while enforcing the law.
Wait until you’re hit or God forbid, hurt in an accident, caused by one of these people who snuck in our country illegally.
I’ve responded to your email twice, so please check your Spam folder.
So much for Dora the Explorer!
This article fails to explain “why”?
Sounds reasonable, if maybe a little overdue.
Reasonable? This is nothing more than virtue signalling. The ONLY person who can detain on an ICE detainer (as opposed to an actual warrant) is a designated immigration ASO Deputy. There aren’t any and they don’t mention not signing the required ‘agreement’. This news article is pure smoke and mirrors.
Illegals cause an “butterfly effect” on the worker supply, wages, rents and housing costs, auto insurance rates…. and resulting poverty and crime of citizens, and citizen-criminals and their victims. Do something about repeat offenders. Local judges are using crime levels to “justify” building new downtown courthouses at taxpayer expense. We already pay for court fees of “indigent” criminals, citizens or not.
I’m assuming unauthorized alien is the same thing as a damn illegal person who came my country illegally and should not be here
See what happens when you do your non-binding ice resolutions! 😃
Federal funding is next!
Thanks prizzia , and you know what you can do with your “special status”!
Gots to play nicey nice with the illegals. Why?
I read a article several months back that the UFPD has designated officers that are able to arrest and take illegal aliens into custody under the cloak of ICE. They have received training and are deputized under ICE. Seems like the city would have the same thing but the Commission want no part of it I guess. This must be their way of silently waving their fist at ICE. Either way between ICE. ASO and UFPD we can put a dent in the illegal alien population.
I’m sure the city is upset that people can be observed without warrants and it can result in the police interacting with them.
No, wait, that’s Flock cameras. The city’s cool with those.