This page is information, not legal advice. Florida is the state most aggressively aligned with federal immigration enforcement in the country. All 67 Florida counties have 287(g) agreements with ICE - required by state law signed February 2025. State agencies including the Florida Highway Patrol, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles actively conduct immigration enforcement under 287(g). ICE's Miami field office (covering all of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) made approximately 43,000 arrests between January 2025 and March 2026 - more than any other ICE field office in the country. SB 4-C (February 2025) created new state crimes for unauthorized entry into Florida, but a federal court enjoined enforcement on preemption grounds; Florida's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court was pending as of mid-2026. The standard protections that apply in sanctuary or limited-cooperation states do NOT apply in Florida. Contact ACLU of Florida (aclufl.org) or Florida Immigrant Coalition (floridaimmigrant.org) for current guidance and legal resources.
Florida sits at the opposite end of the enforcement cooperation spectrum from the states covered in earlier pages of this series. Rather than limiting state and local cooperation with ICE, Florida has mandated it, funded it, built a state enforcement infrastructure around it, and marketed itself as the national model. What this means for families in Florida is direct: virtually every law enforcement encounter - a traffic stop, a county jail booking, contact with any state agency - takes place in an environment where the officer or agency has formal authority to conduct or assist with immigration enforcement.
Between January 2025 and March 2026, ICE's Miami field office - which covers all of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands - made approximately 43,000 arrests. That is more than any other ICE field office in the country, including offices in California, Texas, and New York. This outcome was not accidental. It reflects a state policy framework designed specifically to maximize enforcement.
Part 1: What federal immigration law actually says
Federal authority - and the voluntary cooperation baseline
Immigration enforcement is federal. The INA governs removability, enforcement, and status. Under the Tenth Amendment's anti-commandeering doctrine (Printz v. United States, 1997), the federal government cannot compel states to enforce federal immigration law - states must voluntarily participate. Florida has not only chosen to participate voluntarily; it has also passed state laws that themselves mandate participation, creating a layered framework where both federal and state authority point in the same direction.
What 287(g) means in practice
A 287(g) agreement allows a state or local law enforcement agency to act as a force multiplier for ICE. Under different 287(g) model types, officers can question arrestees in jail, question people on the street based on immigration status, and arrest people for civil immigration violations. The scope depends on the model: the Task Force Model (TFM) authorizes officers to make arrests in the field; the Warrant Service Officer (WSO) model authorizes officers to serve administrative warrants in jails; the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM) focuses on identifying removable individuals already in custody. Florida's network includes all three models across state and county agencies.
Part 2: Florida's immigration enforcement laws
SB 1718 (May 2023) - the foundation
The legislative foundation was SB 1718, signed in May 2023. Key provisions: employers with 25 or more employees must use the federal E-Verify system to confirm new hire eligibility; transporting migrants into Florida became a criminal offense; the state invalidated certain out-of-state driver's licenses and permits for undocumented immigrants; hospitals receiving Medicaid were required to collect and report the immigration status of patients.
SB 2-C (February 13, 2025) - mandatory 287(g) for all 67 counties
SB 2-C, signed February 13, 2025, is the law that made Florida's approach structurally distinct from every other state. Its key provision required all 67 Florida county detention facilities to sign 287(g) agreements with ICE by April 2025. Compliance was not optional: if officials did not sign, the governor could temporarily remove them from office and sue to force compliance. All 67 counties now have 287(g) agreements.
SB 2-C also: established the State Board of Immigration Enforcement to oversee state-level enforcement activity; created the Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program, allocating more than $298 million for immigration-targeted hiring, training, and bonuses to officers who cooperate in federal enforcement activities; restricted driver's licenses and ID cards to authorized immigrants only; and created new felony penalties related to immigration-adjacent conduct.
SB 4-C (February 13, 2025) - new state crimes for unauthorized entry
SB 4-C created two new state crimes: illegal entry and illegal reentry into Florida by an adult unauthorized alien. A first-time violation was a serious misdemeanor with a mandatory nine-month jail sentence. A second violation became a felony with at least one year behind bars. Penalties escalated further for additional violations.
SB 4-C also included a provision requiring courts to impose the death penalty for any undocumented person convicted of a capital felony in Florida.
Federal courts enjoined enforcement of SB 4-C's illegal entry and reentry provisions on the grounds that they violate the Supremacy Clause - federal immigration law preempts state attempts to create parallel criminal immigration systems. The Farmworker Association of Florida and other plaintiffs argued that Florida was creating its own immigration enforcement system that conflicted with what Congress had established. Florida appealed and sought a stay from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. As of mid-2026, the legal status of SB 4-C's state criminal provisions was unresolved. Monitor developments at aclufl.org.
State Board of Immigration Enforcement and Operation Tidal Wave
Florida created the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, a dedicated agency overseeing state-level immigration enforcement. Under this framework, Florida launched Operation Tidal Wave - described by the state as 'the first program of its kind in the nation.' Operating through 287(g) agreements, state agencies work directly alongside ICE, exercising immigration arrest authority that had historically been reserved for federal agents.
Between April 2025 and January 2026, state law enforcement agencies made more than 10,400 arrests under Operation Tidal Wave. ICE received $28.5 million in equipment and transportation reimbursements for state-level officers and $10 million for local partners. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles alone made more than 8,819 arrests through its 287(g) partnership since August 2025. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a 287(g) agreement. The Florida Highway Patrol has a 287(g) agreement. State agencies that have no obvious immigration enforcement function have been deputized as ICE partners.
Part 3: What the Florida framework means for families
Every law enforcement encounter is potentially an immigration encounter
In states with sanctuary or limited-cooperation frameworks, the standard guidance is: a traffic stop by local police is not an immigration enforcement action; the officer cannot check your status or hold you for ICE without a judicial warrant. In Florida, that guidance does not apply. Under the 287(g) Task Force Model, officers encountering people in the field - during traffic stops, at workplaces, at schools - have delegated authority to question people about immigration status and to make arrests for civil immigration violations.
Miami immigration attorney Hector Diaz told Axios that police have been profiling work trucks and calling ICE during traffic stops for minor violations - expired registration, driving without a license. A 2025 Supreme Court ruling expanded federal agent stop authority based on race, ethnicity, and language. The practical effect in Florida, where local agencies are 287(g) partners, is that immigration status can become relevant in virtually any law enforcement encounter.
All 67 counties - including those with less aggressive histories
The mandatory county 287(g) requirement in SB 2-C means there is no Florida county where local law enforcement lacks the authority to conduct or assist with immigration enforcement. Even counties whose sheriffs publicly stated that deporting immigrants without criminal records is wrong - and at least six members of Florida's own Immigration Enforcement Council said this - still have 287(g) agreements in place. The agreement is mandatory; how aggressively any individual agency uses it varies. But the authority exists everywhere.
Dissent from within - and why it doesn't change the legal landscape
It is worth documenting that Florida's enforcement posture has faced internal criticism. At an Immigration Enforcement Council meeting in early 2026, at least six of eight council members - all appointed by Republican state leaders - said that immigrants without criminal records should not be deported. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the council's chair, said: 'There are those here that are working hard. They have kids in college or in school. They're going to church on Sunday. They're not violating the law, and they're living the American dream.' Governor DeSantis dismissed these concerns. The legal framework - and the authority that comes with the 287(g) agreements - remains unchanged regardless of individual sheriff attitudes.
Part 4: What you can actually do in Florida
The judicial warrant for home entry remains your primary constitutional protection
Regardless of Florida's state-level framework, the Fourth Amendment still protects the interior of your home. An administrative ICE warrant (Form I-200 or I-205, bearing the DHS header) does not authorize forced entry into a private residence without your consent. Only a judicial warrant - signed by a judge, naming the specific address - creates a legal obligation to open the door. In any encounter at your home, you do not have to open the door for anyone who presents only an administrative warrant. Ask to see the warrant; slide it under the door or view through a window before deciding whether to open.
Know your right to remain silent in any encounter
You have the Fifth Amendment right to remain silent in any law enforcement encounter - traffic stop, street contact, or at your home. You are not required to answer questions about your immigration status, country of birth, or how you entered the United States. Stating 'I am exercising my right to remain silent' and 'I do not consent to a search' clearly and calmly is the appropriate response. Do not argue, do not run, do not physically resist - but you are not required to provide information beyond your name in some circumstances.
Know that in Florida, not all traffic stops are just traffic stops
If you are stopped by any Florida law enforcement officer - Highway Patrol, county sheriff, local police, or even Fish and Wildlife - the officer may have 287(g) Task Force authority to ask about immigration status. If ICE is called, be aware that any statement you make about your status, how you entered the country, or where you came from can be used in immigration proceedings. Remain silent on all immigration-related questions. You can say: 'I do not wish to answer questions about my immigration status.'
If someone is detained
Florida has ICE detention facilities in multiple locations, including Broward Transitional Center (Pompano Beach), Glades County Detention Center (Moore Haven), and Baker County Detention Center (Macclenny), among others. ICE may also use county jails under 287(g) agreements for processing and initial detention. Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov immediately to find someone after an arrest. If they do not appear, call the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024. Bond hearings in Florida have been affected by national policy changes - contact an immigration attorney immediately, as administrative processing moves quickly.
Part 5: Legal help and resources in Florida
ACLU of Florida monitors enforcement developments, litigates against unconstitutional enforcement actions, and publishes Know Your Rights materials. The ACLU is counsel in litigation challenging SB 4-C. Website: aclufl.org.
Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) is the primary statewide immigrant rights advocacy organization, coordinating legal services and rapid response across the state. Website: floridaimmigrant.org.
Farmworker Association of Florida (FWAF) represents farmworker and agricultural communities across Florida, including those most affected by ICE enforcement in rural areas. FWAF was the named plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging SB 4-C.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) provides training and technical assistance to immigrant legal service providers and coordinates legal services statewide. Website: cliniclegal.org.
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Florida Chapter can help connect families with qualified immigration attorneys. Website: aila.org.
For immigration court case information, call the EOIR automated line at 1-800-898-7180. To locate someone in ICE custody, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov. ICE ERO Miami covers all of Florida; for enforcement tips and reports, ICE Miami can be reached through official channels. Call the ICE Detention Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024.
Immigration Advocates Network lists Florida legal providers at immigrationadvocates.org.
Florida is the state with the most aggressive alignment between state law and federal immigration enforcement in the country. All 67 counties have mandatory 287(g) agreements. State agencies across the board - Highway Patrol, Fish and Wildlife, Highway Safety - conduct immigration arrests under delegated federal authority. ICE's Miami field office leads the nation in arrest numbers. SB 2-C and SB 4-C deepened the enforcement architecture in February 2025; SB 4-C's state criminal provisions were enjoined by federal courts and were in litigation as of mid-2026. The judicial warrant requirement for home entry is the primary remaining constitutional protection that state law cannot override. In Florida, every law enforcement encounter must be treated as a potential immigration enforcement encounter. Know your rights, have your documents organized, and have an immigration attorney's number saved before any encounter.
This page reflects conditions as of mid-2026. SB 1718 was signed May 2023. SB 2-C and SB 4-C were signed February 13, 2025. Mandatory 287(g) deadline for all 67 counties was April 2025; compliance achieved. Operation Tidal Wave ran April 2025-January 2026 with 10,400+ arrests by state agencies. ICE Miami field office arrest figures (43,000) cover January 2025-March 2026. SB 4-C illegal entry/reentry provisions were enjoined by a federal court; Florida was seeking review from the U.S. Supreme Court as of mid-2026; check aclufl.org for current status. Florida 287(g) total: 325 agreements, 577% increase since January 2025. Verify all current enforcement activity and legal resources with ACLU of Florida or Florida Immigrant Coalition.