Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced that Florida troopers are the first in the nation to receive federal credentials to arrest illegal immigrants.
More than 100 Florida Highway Patrol troopers have been sworn in as special deputy U.S. Marshals, a program allowing those with the credentials to carry out activities above those permitted under ICE’s 287(g) program.
The 287(g) program allows ICE to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove criminal aliens. As of May 12, ICE has signed 558 agreements for the program across 39 states, the agency’s website says. There are 96 pending program applications.
The officers can now execute federal warrants and remove illegal immigrants from communities, DeSantis said during a press conference.
“What we have now with FHP is that they can conduct immigration operations wholly independent of the federal government. And there’s no one else in the country where they’re doing that,” he said, explaining that those credentialed can “do everything that an immigration officer would do, up until the point where [criminal aliens] get processed for removal.”
Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Dave Kerner explained that “if you see a state trooper, he or she has federal authorities to detain, investigate, apprehend and deport. We have troopers in all 67 counties of this great state that have that authority.”
A recent Florida operation, called Operation Tidal Wave, resulted in the arrest of 1,120 criminal illegal aliens.
“I’ve insisted that Florida be the tip of the spear when it comes to state support of federal immigration enforcement. The success of Operation Tidal Wave is proof of our commitment,” DeSantis said of the operation. “Florida is proud to work closely with the Trump administration and help deliver on the 2024 mandate from America that our borders be secured and our immigration laws be followed. We will continue to engage in broad interior enforcement efforts. Thank you to DHS, ICE, CBP, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission, Florida National Guard, Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, and everyone involved for your contributions to this effort.”
