Newly-minted Miami-Dade Sheriff Sheds Light on Law Enforcement Policies: 'Your Immigration Status Is Not the Priority'

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz has sought to clarify her office's role in immigration enforcement following a new federal agreement allowing Florida sheriffs to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Speaking at a community forum, she emphasized that her office remains committed to public safety but will not prioritize immigration status in routine interactions:

"If you are a criminal in this county who is actively committing crimes, you will be arrested. We are going to be enforcing the laws. This agreement means we are now part of that process, but we don't have exact direction because the federal government hasn't told us how they're going to need that support"

The aforementioned federal agreement, announced on Wednesday, allows local law enforcement to enforce immigration violations as part of their routine duties and allows ICE to train, certify and authorize local law enforcement to serve and execute administrative warrants in their jails.

Cordero-Stutz has consistently framed immigration enforcement as a federal responsibility. "Federal immigration laws are always federal, that's literally in the name," Cordero-Stutz stressed on Friday, as CBS News points out. "For me, I uphold the law [but] the laws change. I have a duty to obey the law. That is who I am and that is the Office of the Sheriff's responsibility."

"It's very important to us that we provide safety for the community and have a presence that makes people feel secure," she added. "We participate in many community-based organizations to build those relationships, but trust goes both ways."

Concerns have emerged from immigrant communities and civil rights groups regarding potential racial profiling and increased fear among undocumented residents, as The Miami Herald reports. Some worry that local law enforcement's involvement in federal immigration policies could deter individuals from reporting crimes or cooperating with authorities.

Addressing these concerns, Cordero-Stutz reiterated that deputies would not conduct immigration checks during routine traffic stops:

"If you are pulled over, you will be asked for your license, insurance, and registration—nothing more. If you are arrested and there is a detainer attached to you or some message in regards to immigration, we will turn you over to federal authorities"

Cordero also reiterated her stance on her Instagram account:

Cordero-Stutz has been defiant in her less than two months on the job. In an interview with CBS News just days after being sworn in she underscored that her deputies would not act as immigration enforcement agents. "I will not have my deputies doing that work," she stated. "Equally, I will always make sure that our community is safe," she stated. "Of course, immigration will impact our community, but we're going to make sure that we continue a good public service."

With Miami-Dade County set to host global events such as the FIFA World Cup matches, public safety remains a top priority for the sheriff. "Miami-Dade will continue to be an idyllic venue for world-class events, and terrorists and deranged [people] will continue to search for ways to strike the defenseless when they least expect it," she said. "Therefore, not only must we be alert and intensify our efforts, but we must also maintain a permanent vigilance with persistent innovation."