In a groundbreaking development, Florida has become the first state to have its Highway Patrol troopers receive federal credentials enabling them to independently arrest illegal immigrants. The announcement, made by Governor Ron DeSantis during a May 12 press conference, reveals that 1,800 state troopers have been authorized under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) partnership through 287(g) agreements.
The new task force model empowers Florida troopers to identify, apprehend, and place detainers on undocumented individuals during routine law enforcement activities, including traffic stops. This arrangement effectively allows state officers to function as an extension of ICE while maintaining federal oversight.
The initiative also includes the swearing-in of 100 Florida troopers as special deputy U.S. marshals, granting them authority to execute federal search warrants and remove dangerous illegal immigrants from the state. Dave Kerner, who heads the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, emphasized that state troopers across all 67 Florida counties now possess federal authority to investigate, detain, apprehend, and initiate deportation proceedings.
Working in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s administration, Florida recently participated in Operation Tidal Wave, a joint federal-state operation that resulted in over 1,100 arrests of illegal immigrants. The operation targeted members of criminal organizations, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, which have been classified as terrorist organizations under the current administration.
DeSantis revealed plans for potential expansion of the program, pending federal approval, which would enable military judge advocates to serve as immigration judges and provide temporary detention facilities and transportation for illegal immigrants. The governor cited the state’s extensive experience in disaster response as beneficial in developing these plans.
According to state officials, Florida currently has approximately 70,000 to 80,000 illegal immigrants with final deportation orders. The state’s proactive approach to immigration enforcement has resulted in 266 agreements across all sheriff’s offices, leading the nation in implementation of 287(g) programs, with Texas following at 77 agreements.
The federal government offers three distinct models under the 287(g) program: the task force model, the jail enforcement model, and the warrant service officer model. The jail enforcement model focuses on identifying deportable individuals already in local custody, while the warrant service officer model authorizes local officers to serve administrative warrants on detained illegal immigrants.
The expansion of these programs comes as federal statistics show approximately 11 million illegal immigrant apprehensions at U.S. borders over the past four years. The Trump administration has encouraged law enforcement nationwide to participate in 287(g) agreements, citing insufficient federal personnel to manage the volume of illegal immigration cases.
Some apprehended gang members have been deported to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), following the administration’s designation of various Mexican cartels and transnational criminal groups as terrorist organizations. Current ICE data indicates 531 active agreements with state and local agencies throughout the country, with an additional 105 applications under review.
Kerner noted that participation in these programs remains voluntary, allowing jurisdictions to determine their level of involvement after joining the agreements. This flexibility has contributed to the program’s widespread adoption, particularly in Florida, where it has become an integral part of the state’s law enforcement strategy.