DeSantis Signs Immigration Enforcement Deal with DHS

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a partnership between the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enhance immigration enforcement. This collaboration, under Section 287(g) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, allows FHP officers to assist federal agents in immigration duties, including interrogating and detaining individuals suspected of illegal entry. However, FHP troopers do not have the authority to make immigration arrests; these powers remain with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreement positions Florida as one of the first states to fully integrate state law enforcement into federal immigration efforts, following Texas. DeSantis emphasized this initiative as a crucial step in supporting President Trump's immigration policies, aiming to address what he calls the 'illegal immigration crisis' in the U.S. The partnership involves the training of troopers and potentially expanding the role of other state agencies in the future.