NewsWUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Politics)August 16, 2026Hillsborough
Florida law enforcement collects and stores personal data in centralized immigration database
Florida law enforcement officers are gathering names, photographs, and addresses of individuals suspected of being undocumented and uploading this information into a centralized state database. This practice involves collecting personal details from a broad range of individuals, including those not previously identified as targets of criminal investigations.
Read the full story at WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Politics)Why It Matters
Residents may have their personal information, including photographs and home addresses, stored in a state-run immigration database if they are suspected of being by law enforcement.
Key Facts
- Florida law enforcement officers are actively collecting personal data on individuals suspected of being undocumented.
- The collected data includes names, photographs, and residential addresses.
- The information is being uploaded to a centralized state-level database.
- The scope of individuals targeted includes a wide demographic range, described as including grandmothers, landscapers, and children.
Who's Mentioned
personRon DeSantis“Governor of Florida.”personPaul Chavez“Civil rights attorney at Americans for Immigrant Justice.”personJean Gustave“A man with temporary protected status who was stopped and logged in the database”personBob Gualtieri“Pinellas Sheriff and member of the State Immigration Board.”organizationState Board of Immigration Enforcement“The board overseeing the state's immigration enforcement efforts.”personMatthew Blackwell“Manatee County Sheriff’s deputy who stopped Jean Gustave.”locationFlorida“The state where the data collection policy is being implemented.”personMelissa Bujeda“FDLE official coordinating immigration work.”organizationFlorida Department of Law Enforcement“The agency managing the immigration surveillance database.”