Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County and other Florida sheriffs are stepping up enforcement actions throughout the state in an effort to take a tough stand against illegal immigration. “The game has changed,” Sheriff Judd said at a recent press conference, reaffirming his commitment to pursuing criminal action by unauthorized immigrants.
Programs under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act are being expanded and reinstated as part of this endeavor. Through these programs, local cops with specialized training can serve warrants, make arrests, and support immigration enforcement actions on behalf of federal immigration officials.
“Every Community Is Affected by Illegal Immigration”
Sheriff Judd and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri stressed that illegal immigration impacts every American town, county, and state, making it more than just a border issue. “It affects every village, town, county, and state in America. Illegal immigration is a problem,” said Sheriff Gualtieri.
The crackdown includes fast-tracking training programs for officers. Previously, the training took about a month, but now, local deputies can complete it in as little as five days. Additionally, a warrant service officer program will allow officers to process immigration detainers with just four hours of training.
Sheriff Judd dismissed these concerns, calling them “total BS” and insisting that the focus is on criminals, not law-abiding immigrants. “We’re not targeting people because of where they’re from. We’re targeting those who break the law,” he said.
Will Florida’s Jail System Handle the Surge?
Concerns have been raised by some officials over the potential impact of Florida’s heightened immigration enforcement on surrounding prisons. Sheriffs are pleading with the federal government for extra resources to handle the surge of detainees as more arrests and detentions are anticipated.
Sheriff Judd said that while local law enforcement is committed to enforcing the law, without further federal support, detention facilities may soon become overcrowded.