In a significant move that underscores the growing role of states in shaping immigration policy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a groundbreaking agreement allowing state law enforcement agencies to collaborate directly with federal immigration authorities. The deal, which empowers Florida officers to work alongside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), marks a major shift in how immigration laws are enforced at the state level. Under the new agreement, Florida law enforcement officers will have the authority to serve warrants, arrest individuals who have entered the country illegally, and expedite deportation proceedings.
The agreement, hailed as a “landmark” by DeSantis, aligns with the broader efforts of the Republican Party to tighten immigration enforcement and strengthen border security. The governor framed the move as a fulfillment of former President Donald Trump’s mission to “restore sovereignty” and ensure that immigration laws are rigorously enforced. “This is about protecting the rule of law and ensuring that our borders are secure,” DeSantis said during the signing ceremony. “Florida will not stand idly by while the federal government fails to address the crisis at our southern border.
