NewsWUSF (NPR Tampa Bay) — PoliticsAugust 16, 2026Hillsborough County
Florida law enforcement collects and stores personal data in centralized immigration database
Photo: WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay) — Politics
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 specific criminal investigations.
Read the full story at WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay) — PoliticsWhy 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 information from individuals suspected of being undocumented.
- Data collected includes names, photographs, and home addresses.
- The collected information is uploaded to a centralized state 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 with Americans for Immigrant Justice.”locationFlorida“The state where the data collection policy is being implemented.”PersonJean Gustave“A man with temporary protected status who was stopped and logged in the database”PersonBob Gualtieri“Pinellas County 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.”PersonMelissa Bujeda“FDLE official coordinating the state's immigration reporting task.”OrganizationFlorida Department of Law Enforcement“The agency managing the immigration surveillance database.”