For Immediate Release
July 10, 2025
 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced that its sworn law enforcement members statewide are now federally certified to enforce immigration laws under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program. This milestone marks a significant expansion of Florida’s law enforcement capabilities in support of Governor Ron DeSantis’ mission to protect communities and uphold the rule of law.
 
“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.”
 
The 287(g) program, named for the corresponding section of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996, permits ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement authorities to state and local law enforcement trained and approved by the federal agency.
 
“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.”
 
Under the Task Force Model of 287(g) adopted by FDLE earlier this year, ICE delegates to FDLE the authority to perform specific immigration officer functions under federal direction and oversight. This includes identifying and removing already-incarcerated criminal aliens who are eligible for removal before they are released back into the community.
 
287(g) certification officially grants FDLE agents and officers the authority to:

• Interrogate any suspected alien or person believed to be unlawfully present in the United States. If found to be in violation of immigration law, the individual may be detained and processed for state or federal criminal offenses;
• Arrest and detain any alien attempting unlawful entry into the United States, including through ports of entry or Florida’s coastal waters;
• Deliver detained illegal immigrants, without unnecessary delay, to ICE for further screening and removal proceedings;
• Enforce felony arrests under federal immigration law governing the admission, exclusion, expulsion, or removal of aliens;
• Serve and execute warrants for immigration violations; and
• Administer oaths, take sworn statements, collect evidence, and complete required processing steps such as fingerprinting, photographing, and preparing affidavits for ICE review.

With this authority, FDLE agents and officers are also officially empowered by ICE to issue immigration detainers, prepare charging documents in advance for ICE review, and maintain custody of detained aliens prior to transfer to federal facilities, which avoids unnecessary releases due to capacity constraints.
 
For Further Information Contact:
FDLE Office of Public Information
Info@fdle.state.fl.us