How a Local Florida Police Department Helps Enforce National Immigration Laws
Oscar D'Lassalas is a family man who takes great pride in his household. He lives with his wife and five children, including four boys and a young daughter who is almost three years old. Pictures of his family are kept right above the driver's seat of his patrol vehicle, which also holds his daily duty gear, including protective vests and safety equipment.
The 40-year-old works as a sergeant for a sheriff's office in a coastal Florida county, where he also directs the local SWAT team. He recently took on a new responsibility by becoming a certified task force officer under a federal program that allows local police to enforce specific parts of national immigration law.
To get certified, he completed a 40-hour online training course. Federal officials recently shortened this training, which used to require a month of in-person classes, to make it easier for local police departments to join the program. For the sergeant, the extra duty is simply another way to serve his neighbors. However, the program itself is highly controversial across the nation.
What is the Partnership Program?
The program allows local police officers to act as federal immigration agents. It has existed for three decades and has been utilized by various presidential administrations. Recently, federal officials have pushed to expand it significantly as part of broader deportation efforts.
Under this specific agreement, local officers are authorized to perform several immigration duties in the field:
- Interrogating individuals who are suspected of being in the country without legal permission.
- Gathering evidence for immigration cases.
- Making arrests for immigration violations.
Civil rights attorneys argue that this setup leads to serious problems. They point out that 40 hours of online training is not enough to prepare officers for complex federal laws. Critics say this lack of preparation leads to racial profiling, where legal residents and citizens are questioned or arrested simply because of their accents or skin color.
Local police leaders defend their participation, stating that they do not conduct active raids to search for undocumented residents. Instead, they explain that their focus is solely on individuals who commit other crimes or threaten public safety.
The Financial Benefits for Local Government
Working with federal immigration authorities can bring substantial funding to local law enforcement agencies. The federal government offers financial incentives to encourage local police departments to assist with detention efforts.
In this particular Florida county, the sheriff's office agreed to set aside 48 beds in its local jail to hold immigrant detainees for up to 72 hours. In return, the federal government pays the county $72 per day for each detainee.
On top of this daily rate, the state government provided more than $9 million in grant money to support the sheriff's office in running this holding facility.
How It Works on Daily Patrols
The county is divided into two very different areas. The northern part is mostly rural and home to working-class families, while the southern part features wealthy beachside communities. Construction is booming throughout the region, and local businesses rely heavily on immigrant labor for building homes and supporting the tourism industry.
During his daily patrols, the sergeant explains that his routine has not changed very much. If he stops a driver for a traffic violation, he checks their name in a database for active warrants, which includes immigration warrants. He says he does not ask about immigration status just based on how someone looks.
If a driver has a clean record, he lets them go with a warning or a ticket. But if there is an active warrant for their arrest, he has to take them to jail. He also uses his fluent Spanish to help other officers translate or transport people who are already in custody.
Fear and Silence in the Community
Despite promises of fairness, many immigrant families are living in constant fear. The widespread use of these agreements throughout Florida has made many workers terrified of leaving their homes. Florida has more local agencies participating in this program than any other state, with all 67 counties signing cooperation agreements.
One 36-year-old construction worker named Alfonso, who came from Central America four years ago, explains that he is panicking. To stay safe, he has stopped doing normal activities like going to church or visiting the beach.
His 22-year-old cousin, Ronaldo, who arrived alone as a teenager, feels like living in the country now feels like being in a prison. He hopes to save enough money to buy a house back home, where he feels he might finally find freedom.
This fear is also hurting local businesses. Construction companies are finding it harder to recruit workers because people are too afraid of being stopped by state troopers or local police.
The Challenge of Building Trust
The local sheriff admits that this fear creates a major challenge for public safety. When immigrants are terrified of the police, they do not report crimes when they are victims. This makes it very difficult for officers to protect everyone in the community.
Still, many local residents and county officials support the program. They believe that national laws must be enforced and that local police should assist with immigration control.
For the sergeant, the issue is personal. His father and grandmother both immigrated to the United States from Colombia. He says he strives to treat everyone he meets with respect, regardless of their legal status, because they are all human beings.