Gov. Ron DeSantis urged law enforcement agencies to increase their cooperation with federal immigration authorities and called on the
Legislative for a project to “address” the issue of the so-called “sanctuary cities” that protect undocumented aliens.
The program, known as the 287 (g) agreement, deputizes local enforcement officers to detain and investigate anybody who they believe have violated federal immigration laws on behalf of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The announcement was made during a press conference accompanied by Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, who reported on the implementation of 287 (g) in that county of North Florida.
Hernando County thus joined Clay, Collier and Pasco counties, as well as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, in the implementation of this federal program.
The initiative allows local authorities to verify the immigration status of detainees and transfer them to immigration authorities if they are undocumented.
DeSantis also asked the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) to review the 287 (g) program and prepare a strategy to join the initiative.
In that sense, he urged FDC Secretary Mark Inch to identify the facilities within his department where the implementation of federal immigration control programs would be “beneficial”.
He also called on the Florida Sheriffs Association to encourage greater participation in programs that facilitate greater cooperation in the enforcement of immigration law with the federal government.
President Donald Trump revived the 287 (g) program by ordering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in January 2017 to engage state and local jurisdictions to strengthen participation in that initiative.
