The Trump administration’s efforts to entice cops in Florida into becoming federal immigration agents is sparking complaints from police chiefs and sheriffs, who believe the effort undermines their partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to an email obtained by the Miami Herald.
“It’s incredibly disappointing and reflects the inability of our federal partners to understand the concerns of local law enforcement agency heads that literally have committed 10% or more of their assets to help federal agencies with their primary mission despite staffing concerns, pay inequities that cannot begin to compete with federal funding,” Jennifer Cook Pritt, executive director of the Florida Police Chiefs’ Association, said in an email to ICE on July 30.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has also publicly echoed the concerns, hinting at a conflict between his administration and the federal government.
“I think we want to continue doing what we're doing, but, you know, sheriffs losing deputies who are in this fight to just go to a different, wear a different jersey, basically, but still be in the fight, that doesn't necessarily add to what we're doing,” DeSantis said in a press conference last week.
DeSantis has pushed for local and state law enforcement officers to join the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign. Hundreds of law enforcement officials have signed up to perform some of the duties of federal immigration agents as part of their regular responsibilities in a program known as 287(g).
In an ICE recruitment email reviewed by the Herald from ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, which targeted officers participating in the 287(g) program, the agency promised a $50,000 sign-on bonus paid out over five years, $10,000 each anniversary, to deportation officers and criminal investigators.
“This is more than a job; it’s a continuation of your service to our country,” the email said.
In the press conference, DeSantis said he understood the frustration from law enforcement officials.
“I know some sheriffs have concerns about that happening,” the governor said. “It’s like, hey, we’ve been doing all this stuff to help you guys and now you’re trying to poach our people who are already in the fight.”
DeSantis said the 287(g) program, which his administration pushed Florida law enforcement agencies to join, has been a “huge benefit” to ICE, and targeting these police officers amounts to just moving people around. “Why don’t you bring new people in to supplement the mission going forward? So I understand the concern,” he said.
The 287(g) program allows state and local enforcement to partner with ICE in performing limited immigration enforcement activities, such as identifying undocumented immigrants. Under the Trump administration, the program has become a critical avenue for boosting mass deportation targets.
An ICE spokesperson, in an email statement, confirmed to the Herald that local police who have joined the 287(g) program will continue to be targets of recruitment efforts.
“ICE is recruiting law enforcement, veterans and other patriots who want to serve their country and help remove gang members, child pedophiles, murderers, terrorists and drug traffickers “ the statement said. “This includes local law enforcement, veterans, and our 287(g) partners who have already been trained and have valuable law enforcement experience.”
The Florida Police Chiefs Association declined to comment for this story, and the Florida Sheriffs Association did not respond to requests for comment.
After recently getting an additional $75 billion in funding from Congress, ICE has amplified its recruitment efforts, flooding social media sites with posters promising recruits benefits such as student loan repayment, the $50,000 signing bonus, and a six-figure yearly salary.
“America Needs You,” the new recruiting website says, with a poster of Uncle Sam.
In an interview Wednesday on Fox News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the agency had received over 80,000 applications for 10,000 open positions. Noem added the agency is lifting any age limit on who can apply to become an ICE officer. Previously, applicants had to be 21 years old or no more than 40 years old. Noem, in the interview, said applicants can now be as young as 18.
Miami Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.
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