NewsNBC 6 South Florida (WTVJ) – Local NewsJuly 1, 2026Miami-Dade
Florida Pushes Local Police to Increase Immigration Enforcement
The State Immigration Enforcement Council is pressuring local law enforcement agencies to fully comply with state laws regarding federal immigration enforcement. Officials are threatening to withhold grant funding from agencies that fail to enter into 287(g) agreements or report required data.
Read the full story at NBC 6 South Florida (WTVJ) – Local NewsWhy It Matters
Local law enforcement agencies that do not participate in federal immigration enforcement programs or report data face the potential loss of state grant funding from a $148 million pool.
Key Facts
- The State Immigration Enforcement Council will send letters to non-compliant agencies urging them to follow state law and report monthly data.
- The State Board of Immigration Enforcement has approved approximately $148 million in funds for local agencies to assist with federal immigration enforcement.
- $13.6 million has been disbursed to 34 agencies to date.
- Grants will be withheld from agencies that do not enter into 287(g) agreements or report data to the state.
- Out of 394 total law enforcement agencies in Florida, 272 have active 287(g) agreements.
- Of the 272 agencies with agreements, 163 are 'active operational' (have made at least one arrest), while 109 have not made an arrest.
- State law requires all county sheriff's departments to enter into 287(g) agreements.
- Police departments are not required to enter 287(g) agreements but are mandated to use 'best efforts' to support federal immigration law enforcement.
- Only 17% of the 9,026 designated immigration officers in Florida are police officers.
- Agencies are required to enter data into the Florida Suspected Unauthorized Alien Encounters Dashboard.
Who's Mentioned
personBob Gualtieri“Pinellas County Sheriff and member of the council.”personAnthony Coker“Director of the State Immigration Enforcement Council.”organizationState Immigration Enforcement Council“Council overseeing local compliance with immigration laws.”organizationFlorida Department of Law Enforcement“State agency tracking enforcement data.”personRon DeSantis“Governor of Florida who supports the immigration enforcement priority.”personGrady Judd“Polk County Sheriff and chair of the State Immigration Enforcement Council.”personDonald Trump“President whose immigration agenda is being supported by the state council.”