The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Services (ICE) announced Monday a new program that will allow Florida deputies to serve ICE arrest warrants on behalf of the federal government.
The program is intended for law enforcement authorities who wish to cooperate in the detention of undocumented immigrants, but are prohibited from doing so because of state and local policies that limit cooperation with ICE.
The initiative, called The Warrant Service Officer program, is also intended for those rural areas that lack the budget and staff resources to participate in the controversial Program 287 (g) of the agency.
According to ICE, the program has won the interest of several local enforcement agencies, and will soon be available nationwide.
The Warrant Service Officer program was launched during a signing ceremony with Florida Deputy Governor Jeanette Núñez, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, National Sheriffs Association Executive Director Jonathan Thompson, and ICE’s Executive Deputy Director of Operations David Marin.
48 HOURS
Once a WSO official complies with an administrative order and executes an arrest warrant on behalf of ICE, the agency has 48 hours to make a custody transfer, unless there is an Intergovernmental Service Agreement.
If ICE does not place the alien in custody within 48 hours, the individual must be released.
Florida deputies will only make arrests within the confines of the jails in which they work, and ICE will continue to issue immigration detentions with the associated jurisdictions.
“This program provides Florida Deputy Sheriffs with legal support to help federal authorities keep dangerous illegal aliens out of their communities,” said Executive Director of the National Sheriffs Association, Jonathan Thompson.
“Not only will it reduce the sheriff’s responsibility but it will provide them with adequate training to enforce the law,” he added.
