25-02-2025
St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to get enhanced immigration enforcement capabilities
St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to get enhanced immigration enforcement capabilities
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Sheriff Richard Del Toro discusses arrests in 2022 homicide
St. Lucie County Sheriff Richard Del Toro on Feb. 20, 2025, discusses the arrests one day earlier of Lonnie Bee Smalls III and Zeggeree White in connection with the November 2022 fatal shooting of 23-year-old Vincent Rashawn Green Jr.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office is participating in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program.
The program steps up state and local law enforcement agencies' immigration enforcement capabilities
The Florida Sheriffs Association on Monday stated all county jails in the state have signed agreements with ICE
ST. LUCIE COUNTY − The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office now is participating in a federal program that enhances the agency's abilities in immigration-related enforcement initiatives, the sheriff said last week.
Sheriff Richard Del Toro, elected in November 2024, has said his agency applied under former President Joe Biden's administration about a year or so ago to take part in what is known as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program.
The program 'enhances the safety and security of our nation's communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove criminal aliens who are amenable to removal from the U.S.,' according to ICE.
Del Toro stated immigration has been a significant issue for President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, on Monday the Florida Sheriffs Association reported all county jails in the state have signed an agreement with ICE 'to ensure compliance with 287(g) program requirements.'
Sheriff's offices in Martin and Indian River counties signed agreements to participate in 2020 and 2019, respectively, according to ICE.
President Trump in January signed an executive order requiring ICE 'to authorize state and local law enforcement officials, as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines are qualified and appropriate, under section 287(g) … to the maximum extent permitted by law.'
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Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at
