Latest news with #StateImmigrationEnforcementCouncil
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida immigration council questions deportation numbers
The Trump administration has made it clear that undocumented immigrants in this country will be deported, but sheriffs in central Florida are saying that is not happening as promised. Now the State Immigration Enforcement Council is sounding the alarm. 9 Investigates has been looking into some arrests after finding several cases where illegal immigrants were taken into custody and not detained. In April, when we told you about Paula Hernandez Lazaro was arrested after a crash with a Belle Isle police officer. According to the report, she did not have a license nor legal status in the U.S. and entered the country illegally. She was taken to jail but then released. The State Immigration Enforcement Council says cases like that are happening all over the state because of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Last week, the council passed a resolution asking the governor and other state officials to meet with Trump administration officials. The council would like a federal executive order making it easier for law enforcement to detain and hold all undocumented immigrants and not just those who have committed major crimes. But that would mean having places to hold them until the migrants are deported. The number of migrants in Florida who have been deported since January is unclear. The government has not been forthcoming about the actual number of deportations happening in this state or any other. But even if that did happen, there is no infrastructure right now for the state to hold everyone they pick up. That means right now the state can't crack down as hard as it said it would. Do you have a story for WFTV's 9 Investigators? Click the banner below to submit a tip.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida pushes Trump administration to allow tougher enforcement of illegal immigration
Florida officials are trying to ice out ICE. State law enforcement representatives say they need rule and policy changes to be able to remove and detain all immigrants who are in the country illegally, not just criminals and those with removal orders. That's why the State Immigration Enforcement Council is scheduled to pass a resolution on May 20 to ask Gov. Ron DeSantis and other statewide elected officials to engage with President Donald Trump's administration, specifically Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "This council remains committed to keeping America safe. However, we are facing pressing challenges and respectfully request immediate federal executive involvement," the resolution says. The state said some immigrants taken into custody by law enforcement or "for violations of Florida law" do not always have ICE detainers on them, and even if they are taken into ICE custody, some are being released. The state now wants a way to detain immigrants and forward them to ICE without removal warrants or state charges. The move would "allow law enforcement to take action and better protect communities," the resolution says. Florida's leaders have touted the state as the toughest on illegal immigration, and this latest resolution adds to the long list of policies the state has enacted to comply, and in some ways outdo, Trump's mass deportation mandate. Since Trump took office for his second term, the Republican-led legislature and DeSantis passed a package of measures with a $300 million price tag that cracks down on illegal immigration and ramp up arrests in collaboration with ICE across the state. The council is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the resolution. This is a developing story and will be updated. Check back later for more. Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@ This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida seeks power to detain all undocumented immigrants
Miami Herald
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida considering temporary housing to hold detained immigrants. Here's what we know
Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration wants to set up temporary housing for immigration detainees in Florida, but has yet to release specifics on what such a plan would entail or say whether the idea has the support of the federal government. Top Florida lawmakers have few or no details about the proposed plans, which were made public during a State Immigration Enforcement Council meeting on Monday. Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Perez said this week they have not been briefed on specifics yet. 'There aren't any specifics or details for him to consider at this time,' a spokesperson for the Senate president said in an email Thursday. 'We don't even know if this would require state funding, or what the Legislature's role, if any, would be.' Perez told reporters on Thursday that while he does not have the details yet, he understands that, in general, detention capacity for detained immigrants is a top priority for the Trump administration. 'Eventually, I'm sure we'll be brought up to speed,' the Miami Republican said. The revelation that the state is seeking to house detained immigrants comes as DeSantis and other state officials are pushing local and state law enforcement officers to help the Trump administration identify and detain immigrants who are in the country illegally. As the state's efforts ramp up, sheriffs have raised concerns that there are not enough beds to hold the number of immigrants that could soon be detained. Florida sheriffs had proposed a plan that would have allowed deputies to transport immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices within the 48-hour period they are required to hold them in custody, but the federal government rejected it. The push to find alternatives for detaining immigrants also comes as one of the four ICE detention facilities in Florida, Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, deals with overcrowding issues. The idea for the state to step in and help with temporary housing was first brought up at the Monday meeting as law enforcement officials on the council talked about how housing and transportation were two top areas where the state can assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as it ramps up arrests and deportations. At the meeting, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who serves as the chairman of the State Immigration Enforcement Council, said the state should be allowed to 'set up temporary housing to create much needed additional detention capacity.' State Board of Immigration Enforcement Executive Director Larry Keefe then said that Kevin Guthrie, the head of the state's Division of Emergency Management, is taking the lead on the idea and making the pitch to the federal government. 'He is really good about safely moving people and stuff around in high-stress, high-pressure emergency situations, including soft-sided facilities, hard-sided facilities,' Keefe said of Guthrie. 'Whatever the state of the art is on planet Earth on how to house people, how to move people, and feed people and treat people safely and well, he knows it.' The Florida National Guard could help with security issues if the plan takes off, Keefe added. Beyond those details, not much else is known about the plan. For instance, the state has not said where it would set up the housing, what its capacity would be, if there would be a cost to Florida taxpayers or if the state has made headway on getting support from the federal government. Keefe did not have an update on the Trump administration's stance on the idea. But he broadly talked about 'choke points' at the federal level that could prevent some of the state's immigration enforcement ideas from happening. One of those 'choke points' could be fear of lawsuits, he said. 'And if at the end of the day, it turns out to be 'Oh, well, we might get sued,'' he said, 'well, maybe that's where it needs to play out.' The Florida Division of Emergency Management did not respond to repeated requests seeking comment. A spokesperson for the Florida National Guard referred questions to the Division of Emergency Management, saying 'it is their proposal and therefore out of our scope.' Judd said in an interview this week that Guthrie and Florida's Adjutant General John Haas 'have made it abundantly clear that they're eager and want to help with housing and transportation issues.' Haas oversees the overall management of the Florida National Guard and serves as DeSantis' senior military advisor. In Tallahassee, the plans have not been formally presented to state lawmakers. Republican leaders in charge of setting the budget for the Division of Emergency Management said they had not heard anything about the plans or whether it would require state funding. Albritton, the Senate president, said through a spokesperson that he trusts the law enforcement officials leading the council, and the ideas they will consider. 'He trusts law enforcement, so if there is a proposal brought forward from the council about something they feel is needed, certainly he would want to learn more before making a decision,' the spokesperson said.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Good ring to it': Byron Donalds teases run for Florida governor
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Rep. Byron Donalds continues to fuel speculation he may announce a bid to be the next governor of Florida. On Friday, the Southwest Florida congressman spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference. 'As for me, stay tuned,' Donalds said. 2 Tampa Bay sheriffs tasked to serve on State Immigration Enforcement Council The remarks follow President Donald Trump's endorsement, despite the congressman not making an official announcement. 'I just want to say Mr. President, thank you and I will never let you down,' Donalds said. After a panel with the non-partisan group Tampa Tiger Bay Club, Hillsborough GOP Chair Carmen Edmonds confirmed she's also hearing speculation involving First Lady Casey DeSantis, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and former Congressman Matt Gaetz. Edmonds has advice on what any candidate should run on. 'If we can fix some of the property insurance issues, fix car insurance issues, and make some of the things that go into homeownership or car ownership a little bit cheaper, then that'll help people across the board,' Edmonds said. The local party won't make an endorsement until after the gubernatorial GOP primary. 'It's not surprising with Donald Trump. I mean, he jumps out early and often getting behind the people who he really likes and pushes for them,' Edmonds said. Hoyt Prindle with the county's Democratic Party said Florida House Minority Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell from Hillsborough County and State Sen. Jason Pizzo from South Florida may also run. If they do, he too has ideas for their platform. 'We've got to deal with the insurance crisis in the state. We've had 25 plus years with giveaways to some of the insurance companies,' Prindle said. However, Prindle was not expecting to be talking about the governor's race this soon. 'I'm a little surprised frankly that the president has chosen to endorse this early,' Prindle said. Gov. Ron DeSantis is term limited. The gubernatorial election is not until November 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sheriffs Gualtieri, Judd picked to guide state's immigration crackdown
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd have been appointed to the new State Immigration Enforcement Council as part of the state's efforts to strengthen federal measures against unauthorized immigration. The council was created last week under the new immigration law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. It will assist the State Board of Immigration Enforcement by providing guidance on enforcing federal immigration laws. In an announcement, state Senate president Ben Albritton called Gualtieri and Judd 'two of the most experienced and well-respected law enforcement officers in the country.' 'When you have the right people with a seat at the table, and everyone works hard at listening, it always yields the best results,' Albritton said. The council will work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to seek training opportunities and improve participation in federal immigration programs. It will also advise the state on local law enforcement efforts and recommend financial support; better information sharing between state, local and federal agencies; and ways to increase detention bed space. The Council has eight members: four police chiefs, each appointed by DeSantis; the state's commissioner of agriculture, attorney general and chief financial officer; and four sheriffs, with the Senate president and House speaker each appointing two. The council must have its first meeting by April 1. Judd welcomed Albritton's support in his role. 'President Albritton has been a friend for decades, and I appreciate the trust he is placing in me to serve in this role,' Judd said in a statement. Also this week, House Speaker Daniel Perez announced the appointment of Duval County Sheriff T.K. Waters and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell to the council. In Florida, advocates and nonprofits spoke out against the state's initiative. Renata Bozzetto, deputy director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said tasking local sheriffs with immigration enforcement comes at a high cost for Floridians. The new orders will require $300 million in state funding. 'These appointments hinder public safety by building distrust, tasking law enforcement agencies with sweeping surveillance and punishment and by sending the message that local sheriffs' new priority is to play politics,' Bozzeto said. Florida's appointments come as thousands of immigrants nationwide will see their processes delayed after the White House ordered an indefinite hold on applications from people paroled under certain immigration programs. The hold was implemented in order to vet security and fraud concerns, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times. The programs affected are Uniting for Ukraine, Family Reunification Parole, and the Processes for Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, known as CHNV. Half a million people are living in the United States under the CHNV program. As of September 2023, more than 158,000 Ukranians had been welcomed into the United States. The Biden administration also created new family reunification parole processes for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia, and updated the parole processes for Cuba and Haiti. The hold does not mean the elimination of certain legal processes, such as the Cuban Adjustment Act or political asylum petitions. Danielle Hernandez, an immigration attorney in Ybor City, said people who entered under Biden-era policies are worried. The announcement of their pending applications being paused leaves them in limbo, she said. 'I do not really have a clear path forward aside from letting them know we are waiting for clear communication,' Hernandez said. 'These immigrants came into our country in the most legal manner possible and are now used as a political scapegoat.'
