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NewsWMNF Tampa Community RadioAugust 18, 2026Hillsborough

Florida law enforcement collects personal data for immigration database

Florida law enforcement officers are gathering names, photographs, and addresses of individuals suspected of being in the country without legal authorization. This data is being compiled into a state-managed immigration database.

immigrationlaw enforcementdata privacyFlorida
Read the full story at WMNF Tampa Community Radio

Why It Matters

The collection of personal information by state authorities for immigration-related purposes impacts the privacy and legal status of residents identified by law enforcement.

Key Facts

  • Florida law enforcement is actively collecting names, photographs, and addresses of individuals.
  • The criteria for inclusion in the database is a suspicion that the individual is in the country without authorization.
  • The database includes a broad range of individuals, including grandmothers, landscapers, and children.

Who's Mentioned

personRon DeSantis“Governor of Florida”organizationWMNF 88.5 FM“The news organization reporting on the database.”personJean Gustave“Individual whose information was logged during a traffic stop”personBob Gualtieri“Pinellas County Sheriff and member of the State Immigration Board”organizationState Board of Immigration Enforcement“Oversees immigration enforcement policy”locationFlorida“The state where the data collection is occurring.”organizationICE“Federal immigration enforcement agency”personMelissa Bujeda“FDLE official”organizationFlorida Department of Law Enforcement“Manages the immigration surveillance database”