Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the allocation of more than $1.8 million to sheriff's offices in Northeast Florida this week. The funding is intended to support local cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During a news conference in St. Augustine, Ingoglia highlighted the role of local law enforcement agencies in implementing the 287(g) program, which authorizes them to assist in enforcing federal immigration laws, according to News4Jax.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office received the largest portion of the funding, totaling $1 million. According to Sheriff Robert Hardwick and cited by First Coast News, the funds will be used for advanced technology and officer incentives. The Clay County Sheriff's Office was allocated $606,151, while smaller amounts were awarded to the sheriff’s offices in Jacksonville, Putnam County, and Bradford County. As the funding supports expanded immigration enforcement efforts, St. Johns County is preparing to assign 104 officers to roles related to immigration enforcement. The broader impact of these efforts on community relations remains under discussion.
In connection with the recent funding, several sheriff’s offices have reported enforcement activity. Since the beginning of the initiative on January 23, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has recorded 710 roadside deportations and 421 deportations involving individuals initially jailed on various criminal charges. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has reported 545 arrests tied to deportation efforts. These figures reflect the current level of immigration enforcement activity across participating agencies, as per Action News Jax.
The implementation of the 287(g) program has received varied responses. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters has stated support for the program, referencing public safety concerns. The initiative has been supported by state leaders.
