Osceola Sheriff Highlights Compliance with New Immigration Laws at Town Hall

At a town hall meeting at Gateway High School, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez addressed concerns from the Hispanic community regarding Florida's new immigration laws. He emphasized that while his agency will comply with state laws and be more proactive in notifying ICE about immigration issues during arrests, they will not conduct raids or target places like schools and churches for undocumented individuals. Lopez reassured attendees that victims and witnesses of crimes would not have their immigration status used against them. The sheriff’s office plans to train deputies under the 287(g) program to handle civil immigration detainers, although this training has yet to occur. Community leaders, such as Jorge Figueroa from the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, expressed relief at the sheriff’s commitment to not actively seek out undocumented immigrants. The event aimed to clarify the sheriff's office's role and alleviate fears within the community amidst sweeping immigration reforms.