Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd have been appointed to the new State Immigration Enforcement Council as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen federal measures against fraudulent immigration.
The council was created under a new immigration law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. Support the state’s immigration executive committee by providing guidance on enforcement of federal immigration laws.
In the announcement, state Senate President Ben Albritton called Gualtieri and Judd “two of the nation’s most experienced and respected law enforcement officers.”
“When you have the right person sitting at the table and everyone is working hard to listen, it always has the best results,” Albritton said.
The Council will work with US immigration and customs enforcement agencies to seek training opportunities and improve participation in federal immigration programs. They also advise the state on local law enforcement efforts and recommend financial support. Better information sharing between state, local and federal agencies. How to increase detention bed space.
The council has eight members. Four police chiefs, each appointed by DeSantis. State agricultural commissioner, attorney general and chief financial officer. Four sheriffs, the Senate and the House Speaker each appointed two. The Council must have its first meeting by April 1st.
Judd welcomed Albritton’s support in his role.
“President Alburitt has been a friend for decades and I am grateful for the trust he has placed in me to serve this role,” Judd said in a statement.
Also this week, House Speaker Daniel Perez announced to the council the appointments of Duval County Sheriff TK Waters and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Plumel.
In Florida, supporters and nonprofits opposed the state’s initiative.
Renata Bosette, deputy director of the Florida Immigration Union, said entrusting local sheriffs with immigration enforcement would cost Floridians a lot. New orders require $300 million in state funds.
“These appointments create mistrust, impose surveillance and punishment on law enforcement, and send messages that the new priority for local sheriffs is to play politics. It hinders me,” Bozet said.
Thousands of immigration requests pending
Florida’s appointment is to see thousands of immigrants across the country seeing their processes delayed after the White House ordered an indefinite hold on applications from people who have been paroleed under certain immigration programs. , will be appointed.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been implemented to consider security and fraud concerns, the Tampa Bay Times statement said.
The affected program unites the process of Ukraine, family uniting unity parole and the Haitian, Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelans known as CHNV.
Spend your days with Hayes
Subscribe to our free Stephenly newsletter
Columnist Stephanie Hayes shares thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.
You’re all signed up!
Want more free weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Check out all options
Under the CHNV program, half a million people live in the United States. As of September 2023, more than 158,000 Ukrainians were welcomed by the United States. The Biden administration has also created a reintegration parole process for new families in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia, and has updated the parole process in Cuba and Haiti.
Hold does not mean the exclusion of any particular legal process, such as the Cuban adjustment law or political asylum petitions.
Daniel Hernandez, an immigration lawyer for the city of Ever, said people who participated in Biden-era policies were worried. An announcement that her pending applications have been suspended leaves them at Limbo, she said.
“I don’t actually have a clear path other than letting them know that we are waiting for clear communication,” Hernandez said. “These immigrants have come to our country in the most legal way possible and are now being used as political scapegoats.”
