Local South Florida law enforcement agencies receive $2 million for immigration enforcement

Abigail Hasebroock, South Florida Sun Sentinel on Nov 13, 2025

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As part of ongoing immigration enforcement in Florida, three Florida sheriff’s offices, including Palm Beach County’s, received a total of $2 million to support those efforts.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office received a check for more than $994,000 during a news conference on Thursday at the sheriff’s headquarters at 3228 Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach.

Money also was given to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, with St. Lucie receiving more than $998,000 and Indian River receiving more than $93,000.

“This money helps our local law enforcement agencies in the fight against the illegal immigration and deporting criminals out of our country and out of our state,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said during the news conference. In recent weeks, Ingoglia has awarded millions to local law enforcement agencies across the state specifically for immigration enforcement.

The funds are a reimbursement for equipment used to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as for training programs under the 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE by acting as immigration enforcement.

“The reimbursement for this money does go a long way even here in Palm Beach County. It’s very meaningful,” PBSO Chief Deputy Robert Allen said at the news conference. “It’s very expensive to run these operations. We assist everyone from St. Lucie County down through the Keys now wrapping around the southern border of Florida. So this money goes a long way for us to keep those operations running.”

Also on Thursday, ICE and state law enforcement officials in Miramar announced the deportations of more than 200 criminals in Florida — many of whom authorities said were sex offenders — as part of “Operation Dirtbag.”

Ingoglia referenced the 10-day operation during his news conference, using it as an example of how Florida is “leading” the nation in immigration enforcement.

“It doesn’t matter who, what your nationality is, if you’re coming over to this country illegally, you’re going to get caught. You’re going to spend time in jail and then you’re going to get deported,” he said. “Zero tolerance for people coming to our shores, especially if you’re hurting kids.”