TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis held a briefing in Tallahassee on Friday morning to announce a new agreement with the federal government on illegal immigration that he said will expedite the removal of people who are unlawfully living in Florida.
Called 287(g), the governor said the state has entered into a new partnership to deputize state law enforcement to assist federal authorities in detaining people in the state illegally.
WATCH BELOW: New agreement with ICE gives Florida troopers "expanded power"
According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website, 287(g), "allows ICE — through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties — to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation's communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws."
"We're proud to be one of the first states in the nation to be requested to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to execute functions of immigration enforcement within our state," DeSantis said.
The governor said he has directed Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner to have troopers trained and approved by ICE to perform these new duties.
"This agreement will give FHP expanded power and authority to interrogate any suspected alien, or person believed to be an alien, as to their right to be in the United States," DeSantis said. "If they are found to be in violation of proper immigration status, they will be further detained and processed for state or federal offenses."
DeSantis said this will allow troopers to arrest and detain migrants "attempting to unlawfully enter the United States such as through ports of entry or via waters off Florida's coastline." He stated that state law enforcement will also have the authority to serve and execute warrants for immigration violations.
WATCH BELOW: DeSantis announces new agreement with ICE on illegal immigration
Saying it was the "maximum amount of participation" the state could have with the feds under federal law, the governor said the agreement will allow for "speeding up" the deportation process and "quicker removal" of immigrants already detained for being in the country illegally.
It's unclear when this new ICE partnership will take effect because the governor said there "involves really significant training" that would require "some ramp-up time."
DeSantis said Florida would also be in touch with Homeland Security about possibly having other state agencies like Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC), the Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Florida State Guard assisting in illegal immigration.
"You need the state and local partnerships to be able to ensure that you have routine enforcement of the law," DeSantis said.
The governor also briefly addressed his ongoing battle with the Florida legislature concerning new immigration bills, saying he believed his disagreement with lawmakers is "less far apart than what it was last week."
How does this impact Palm Beach County, Treasure Coast?
ICE officials said Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties already have agreements with the federal government while Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties are working through the approval process.
A state law passed in 2022 required any county with a detention center to enter into a similar agreement with ICE.
Thomas Kennedy, who works on policy at the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said this will make Florida a less welcoming state for undocumented migrants.
"It really creates this sort of a 'show me your papers' style of chilling effect," Kennedy said. "It erodes what Florida should be, which is a welcoming state."
The Martin County sheriff said he has requested 16 of his deputies to go through the Homeland Security training, which takes about four weeks.
