Florida’s Active Role in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

In late March, a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer stopped a Guatemalan couple walking their dog in Bonita Springs on the Gulf Coast. The officer, while remaining in his car, requested identification from the husband and directed them to leave the park, according to the wife. In the parking lot, the officer unexpectedly arrested the husband on an alleged false charge, claiming the dog bit him. The wife, who chose to remain anonymous, feared this might jeopardize their pending asylum cases.

She stated, “He said the dog bit him, but he never exited the car.” The officer then made calls, arrested her husband, and awaited federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to take him.

Trump’s immigration policy faces backlash in Democratic-led sanctuary cities, but Florida has taken a different approach. Over 347 state and local agencies have joined these efforts, including the Florida National Guard and other unlikely departments like the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Florida has seen a surge in immigration arrests during Trump’s second term, conducted quietly as routine police stops. Data analyzed by the University of California, Berkeley showed nearly 39,000 immigrants were arrested in Florida over 416 days beginning January 20, 2025. This is a stark contrast to the 11,088 arrests in the preceding period under the Biden administration.

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis supports these efforts through 287(g) agreements, enabling state and local agencies to interact with immigrants under federal immigration laws. They are tasked with producing quantifiable results, as noted by immigration attorney Vilerka Bilbao, who represents clients detained in Jacksonville. Bilbao highlights the ease with which state officers can detain individuals under the slightest pretexts.

An incident on February 15 reflected this trend when Lee County deputies detained a 44-year-old Guatemalan man and his 21-year-old son, alleging an expired license plate despite its validity. Both were deported within a week, leaving their family behind in Florida. DHS claims the man and his son weren’t legally in the U.S., citing past border crossings and a final removal order from 2019.

In the dog walker’s case, DHS stated his arrest was due to two final removal orders against him. Both agencies involved in initiating these arrests, the Fish and Wildlife Commission and Lee County Sheriff’s Office, have refused to release arrest records and footage, citing federal directives under ICE control, which conflicts with the Florida Sunshine Law.

Despite controversies, Florida continues to lead in immigration enforcement under 287(g) agreements, which have expanded from 135 in 20 states to over 1,700 across 41 states and territories since Trump’s second term. Homeland Security incentivizes participation offering financial rewards such as salary reimbursement and funding up to $100,000 for new enforcement vehicles.