Attorney General James Uthmeier defended Florida’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies while several sheriffs on the State Immigration Enforcement Council expressed concerns about current deportation practices during a news conference in Orlando. The division highlights growing tensions between state officials and local law enforcement over how to handle undocumented immigrants who have not committed crimes beyond their immigration status.
“What I’ll say is in Florida, we’re going to keep enforcing the law. That is our job, as law enforcement, to enforce the law that’s on the books. If people are here illegally, then they are breaking the law, and we are going to enforce it,” Uthmeier said. “At the end of the day, even if people have been, you know, welcomed here on some temporary status, we’ve seen it still jeopardize public safety.”
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, chair of the State Immigration Enforcement Council, called for a more nuanced approach during the council’s meeting. “While Congress sits on their hands and does nothing about this, we are on the ground floor with this day in and day out - looking in the eyes of these folks that, yes, came here inappropriately. But some came here inappropriately only to do better for themselves and their family,” Judd said. The sheriff plans to write a letter to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson seeking clarity on federal immigration enforcement priorities.
Uthmeier noted that Judd worked with his office on a sting operation earlier this year, “arresting and charging over 250 individuals in a weeklong period that were trying to go molest little kids,” with more than 50 “here illegally.” “I don’t write the law, I enforce it. These guys enforce it. I know our Sheriffs, there’s probably no better example of enforcing the law in the whole country than Grady Judd and some of the other Sheriffs,” Uthmeier added. However, Uthmeier said he would not support Judd’s letter to federal officials.
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell echoed Judd’s frustrations with federal inaction. “I wholeheartedly agree that Congress, they need to get off their butts and they need to fix it,” Prummell said. “We’re not out … just raiding business and homes, but, unfortunately, when ICE gets involved, you have the collaterals.” Six of the eight members of the State Immigration Enforcement Council vocalized support for Judd’s position, suggesting daylight between the state’s top law enforcement official and local partners.
Not all sheriffs share these concerns, with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters maintaining his support for current enforcement practices. “I was not on the call referenced and do not share or endorse the comments made by others,” Waters said. “Our focus remains on enforcing the law and continuing our mission to make Jacksonville a safer place for all residents.” Waters noted that Duval County has participated in immigration enforcement since 2008 through the 287(g) program, processing 1,289 illegal immigrants for removal proceedings in the past two years alone.
Judd’s position represents a significant shift from his previous stance, as less than a year ago he asked Trump to sign more executive orders allowing state law enforcement to expedite removal of undocumented immigrants without criminal records. “Those are the folks we need in this country that we embrace, because we are a country of immigrants,” Judd said during the recent council meeting. “But we have allowed, what I call the criminal troublemaker, to just flood in this country and victimize people. And I think a path for the good folks with a good intention, for the right reason, is reasonable.”
The State Immigration Enforcement Council was established under a state law pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis requiring state and local law enforcement officials to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Florida was the first state to set up makeshift detention centers such as “Alligator Alcatraz” in South Florida. The council comprises four sheriffs and four city police chiefs tasked with coordinating immigration enforcement across the state.
Judd said he had heard from conservative Republicans who “are active politically and active economically politically” who were concerned about some immigrants “that now under this particular set of circumstances are being swept up and taken out of the country.” “There are those here that are working hard, they have kids in college, are in school, they’re going to church on Sunday, they’re not violating the law, and they’re living the American dream,” he told council members. Judd said he spoke with a Cabinet member who discussed “this kind of immigrant” with Trump, and the president was “not anti- that conversation.”
The council’s next meeting has not been scheduled, but Judd indicated he would proceed with drafting his letter to federal officials seeking guidance on immigration enforcement priorities despite Uthmeier’s opposition.