Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a new agreement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), granting Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers the authority to serve warrants, detain, arrest, interrogate, and fingerprint individuals suspected of being undocumented immigrants.
Announced during a press conference in Tallahassee on Friday, the agreement falls under the 287(g) program of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows selected state law enforcement officers to perform certain duties typically reserved for federal immigration agents. This expansion gives nearly 2,000 state troopers the ability to enforce immigration laws beyond state highways, including at airports, seaports, and along Florida’s coastline.
“This is a deputization of state enforcement entities,” DeSantis said. “It will allow our ongoing operations to continue, but it will also establish a permanent path forward for dealing with illegal migrants in police custody.”
During his announcement, DeSantis also expressed support for Trump, stating, “Now we’ve got a partner who is committed to enforcing the law.”
Florida law enforcement officers have previously worked with federal and local agencies on immigration-related issues, but this agreement officially integrates state troopers into federal immigration enforcement efforts.
