TALHASSEE — Florida officials hope local police officers will report their boss to the state if they believe they are not fully complying with the state’s immigration orders as part of President Donald Trump’s widespread push to load law enforcement in immigration crackdown.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Florida immigrant Czar Larry Keefe said that “involved law enforcement officers and employees” could report agency failures to the state through the newly created “Law Enforcement Accountability Dashboard.”
“This reporting system provides a direct channel for executives and employees to report failures in compliance with Florida’s immigration enforcement policies,” Keefe said. “Let’s not be misunderstood. Florida laws will come into effect.”
The dashboard, hosted by a website run by Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement, is the state’s latest effort to put pressure on police and sheriff’s offices across the state, helping the Trump administration illegally identify and deport immigrants in the country.
As of Tuesday, more than 100 Florida police have signed up to participate in the federal immigration program and can perform some of the functions of federal immigration agents while local officials are policed for communities they have vowed to protect. These agencies include police stations in Coral Gables, Key West, Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Keefe’s push to report violations is a signal that state officials are paying attention to local law enforcement agencies’ compliance with state laws.
In his statement, Keefe said officials who violate the law are subject to penalties and judicial procedures by the Attorney General or removal from their duties by the governor.
According to the website, public members can also report “failure by law enforcement or correctional agencies or compliance with Florida immigration enforcement policies.” The instructions on the website also suggest that the complaint may be anonymous.
“We will still review complaints if we choose not to provide contact information, but our ability to investigate and resolve issues may be limited,” the website says. “This could make it delayed or impossible to effectively address concerns.”
When someone files a complaint on the dashboard, they are given the opportunity to upload documents, photos, and files, and are asked to fill out blanks for “violating law enforcement or correctional facilities” and provide an overview of their claims.
