On July 10, 2025, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced that all of its sworn law enforcement members across the state are now federally certified to enforce immigration laws through the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program. This marks a major expansion of immigration enforcement authority for Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis’ public safety directives.
The 287(g) program, authorized under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996, permits ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to state and local officers after federal training and approval.
“Under the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida continues to lead the way in combating the threat posed by illegal immigration,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “With 287(g) credentials in hand, our FDLE Special Agents and Capitol Police officers are better equipped than ever to remove criminal aliens from our state and support our federal partners in securing the homeland.”
Under the Task Force Model adopted by FDLE, agents are now certified to:
- Interrogate suspected undocumented immigrants;
- Arrest and detain individuals attempting unlawful entry;
- Transfer detained individuals to ICE;
- Enforce felony arrests under immigration laws;
- Execute warrants for immigration violations;
- Administer oaths, collect evidence, and complete required processing steps.
The certification allows FDLE officers and agents to work directly alongside ICE to issue detainers, prepare charging documents, and maintain custody of detainees before transfer to federal facilities.
“This certification is a force multiplier in Florida’s mission to enforce the law and protect our communities,” said Larry Keefe, Executive Director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement. “Governor Ron DeSantis has built a model in Florida where state and local law enforcement don’t just assist in immigration enforcement—they lead it, shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal partners.”
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