TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida awarded approximately $32.8 million to local law enforcement agencies and governments this week to reimburse expenses connected to immigration enforcement, expanding the state’s financial support for partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The awards were announced in two rounds by Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, a member of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement. Itemized figures released by the Florida Department of Financial Services total $32,827,861.53 across 12 local recipients.
Sheriff’s offices in Osceola, Orange and Collier counties received nearly $30.2 million combined, accounting for approximately 92% of the funding announced this week.
Central Florida agencies receive $24 million
The first round, announced Tuesday by the Department of Financial Services, awarded $24,040,548.45 to eight Central Florida recipients:
- Osceola County Sheriff’s Office — $11,044,909.42
- Orange County Sheriff’s Office — $10,881,072.40
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office — $1,244,737.65
- Sumter County Sheriff’s Office — $531,678
- Osceola County Board of County Commissioners — $223,878.98
- Fruitland Park Police Department — $59,800
- St. Cloud Police Department — $38,000
- Clermont Police Department — $16,471
Ingoglia said the funding would provide local agencies with additional resources to support law enforcement operations and immigration enforcement activities.
“Florida is the most law enforcement friendly state in the nation because of our commitment to backing the blue and ensuring that we are providing law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to do their jobs effectively and keep our residents safe,” Ingoglia said.
Southwest Florida receives another $8.8 million
A second round announced Thursday in Naples distributed $8,787,313.08 to four Southwest Florida agencies:
- Collier County Sheriff’s Office — $8,250,733.55
- Arcadia Police Department — $377,185.67
- Hendry County Sheriff’s Office — $85,067
- Naples Police Department — $74,326.86
Collier County received approximately 94% of the second-round funding.
“With the support of our state and federal partners, we can continue to identify and apprehend criminals for their crimes,” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said.
The state announcements listed the individual recipients and award totals but did not provide an agency-by-agency breakdown showing the specific expenses being reimbursed.
What the grants can cover
Florida created the State Board of Immigration Enforcement in 2025 as part of a broader effort to expand state and local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Under Florida’s Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program, agencies may seek reimbursement for:
- Detention beds provided to ICE
- Equipment, travel and lodging associated with 287(g) participation
- Immigration-enforcement training
- Hardware and software used to assist federal immigration authorities
- Certain bonuses for eligible participating officers
The board is composed of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the three elected members of the Florida Cabinet: Ingoglia, Attorney General James Uthmeier and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. State law requires board actions to be approved unanimously.
The federal 287(g) program allows ICE to delegate specified immigration-enforcement duties to trained state and local officers working under federal supervision.
Florida officials have said the state now leads the country in local cooperation with ICE.
The expansion has also generated local controversy. A majority of Miami commissioners recently indicated they were open to ending the city’s ICE partnership following hours of public testimony, although the commission has not taken a final vote.
State investment continues to grow
The approximately $32.8 million announced this week represents one of Florida’s largest recent distributions to local agencies for immigration-enforcement cooperation.
State officials say the reimbursements give local departments the equipment, technology and personnel support needed to participate effectively in federal partnerships.
The concentration of nearly all the funding among three sheriff’s offices, however, makes the documentation supporting those reimbursements—and how the money will be used—an important part of evaluating the program’s cost and results.
Related Coverage
- Florida Leads Nation in ICE Cooperation as Immigration Enforcement Expands
- Miami Commission Faces Growing Pressure to End ICE Partnership
- Wasserman Schultz Reports “Horrific” Conditions at Miramar ICE Facility
- Alligator Alcatraz Closes as Miami-Dade Regains Control of Airport
Sources
- July 23 Department of Financial Services award announcement
- July 21 Department of Financial Services award announcement
- Florida Statute 908.1031 — State Board of Immigration Enforcement
- Florida Statute 908.1033 — Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program
- ICE 287(g) program
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