Florida Sheriff Rejects Expanded Immigration Role Suggested by New Law: 'I Didn't Sign Up to Be ICE'

Florida Sheriffs Gregory Tony (Broward County) and Ric Bradshaw (Palm Beach County) are the latest to state that their departments would continue cooperating with federal immigration authorities as they have in the past but would not dedicate additional personnel to immigration enforcement following a new federal agreement allowing states sheriffs to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Governor Ron DeSantis has championed the law, emphasizing its role in strengthening Florida's immigration policies and supporting federal authorities. The legislation formalizes agreements between all 67 Florida sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the 287(g) program, which enables local officers to enforce federal immigration laws.

"Is there an expansion of these programs? Is the sheriff now diving in and saying I'm going to make 150 task force officers to work with ICE? The answer is: absolutely not. I didn't sign up to be ICE," said Sheriff Tony as quoted by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Bradshaw, on the other hand, said he had visited Latino groups throughout the county with a simple message: don't be afraid. "If you're not a bad guy, you haven't committed a crime or you're not one of the people that's here illegally that's a convicted murderer, there's no problem," Bradshaw said.

Tony and Bradshaw join Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz as state Sheriffs who have distanced themselves from the proposed law. Speaking at a community forum last week Cordero-Stutz stated her office's priority remains public safety, not targeting undocumented individuals. "If you are a criminal in this county who is actively committing crimes, you will be arrested," she said. "But we don't have exact direction because the federal government hasn't told us how they're going to need that support."

While some law enforcement officials, such as Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, have embraced the expanded role, others remain wary of allocating additional resources. "It just kind of formalizes what we're already doing," Bradshaw said. "Usually the bigger agencies, they're already doing stuff like that anyhow."

Cordero-Stutz emphasized that her deputies would not conduct immigration checks during routine stops. "If you are pulled over, you will be asked for your license, insurance, and registration—nothing more," she said. "If you are arrested and there is a detainer attached to you, we will turn you over to federal authorities."

DeSantis warned that noncompliance could result in consequences. "I have authority, if you don't live up to your responsibilities to assist, you could be suspended and removed from office," he said. However, he noted that all sheriffs had signed the necessary agreements.

Despite the governor's push, Tony and Bradshaw indicated their agencies do not expect to receive a share of the $250 million allocated for immigration enforcement. "I've learned in this world you don't get anything for free," Tony said. "Starting to absorb funds that we don't need may put the sheriff's office in a position where now we're obligated to comply with some state or federal elements, and I'm gonna be very careful about doing that."