The federal government celebrated Florida’s “historic agreement” with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and reimbursed the state with “historic funding” for immigration-related costs on Friday.
At a press conference in Tallahassee on Sept. 26, ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan announced the federal government is giving Florida millions of dollars in funds: state-level partners will receive $28,570,240 and local agencies will receive $10,005,665.
“With these checks, this is just the beginning,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “It’s showing we’re stepping up, doing the right thing.”
From left to right: ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner, and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, holding up a check for “Defending the Homeland” at a press conference in Tallahassee, Florida on Sept. 26, 2025.
Sheahan said the funds come from the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill, and the money to Florida is part of a $1.6 billion package for local law enforcement across the country.
The money will be split up in the following ways, according to an ICE press release:
$2.7 million in transportation funding for local agencies
$7.3 million in equipment funding for 974 local officers
$1 million in transportation funding for state agencies
$27.5 million in equipment funding for 3,676 state-level officers
Sheahan said there are more than 4,700 law enforcement officers across the state who are now credentialed under the 287(g) program and are designated immigration officers.
Florida has poured money into complying, and in some cases surpassing, President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
Members of the State Immigration Enforcement Council have criticized the federal government for not acting fast enough. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, chair of the council, said law enforcement groups have been “at loggerheads” with ICE over federal jail standards, which has prevented local jails from being able to be used as detention facilities and warned that the state needs more support when all officers are 287(g) certified.
Critics on the opposite side of the issue have also criticized the federal government, casting doubt on the state’s assertions that the federal government will pay but is also not involved in a detention facility in the Everglades that Florida officials say is state-run.
While a federal appeals court has allowed “Alligator Alcatraz” to continue to operate, as the facility does not receive any federal funding, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has recently applied for reimbursement from the feds.
Sheahan said state spending on “Alligator Alcatraz” will be reimbursed with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) money that was “used to bring aliens into this country.”
Under the Biden administration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol funds were granted to states as a part of FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program to help local governments and nonprofit groups to shelter and provide other services to immigrants.
These funds were not diverted from FEMA’s emergency response budget.
Currently, the identities and the number of people who are housed at “Alligator Alcatraz” and North Florida’s “Deportation Depot” are unknown.
However, flights removing detainees into ICE custody continue from both facilities. FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie said next week the number of flights will increase to five a week.
“Florida is all in on helping the Trump administration to deliver on their promises to secure the border for once and for all, to detain as many illegal immigrants as possible and get them back to where they came from,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Rob Hardwick, St. John’s County Sheriff, urged other law enforcement agencies across the country to “get on board, you’re behind the eight ball,” and begin collaborating with ICE.
Currently, 32 local law enforcement agencies are asking the state to be reimbursed for $10.4 million in immigration-related expenses as part of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement’s grant program.
Lee and St. John’s County sheriff’s offices are asking for the most money, requesting $1 million in funds each.
“Our federal partners are sitting there with a checkbook ready to write,” he said. “It’s not lip service, it’s real. We are not here for a photo opportunity today, we’re here to tell you it’s going on. It’s actually happening, and we’re being reimbursed.”
Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ICE sends $38 million to Florida for immigration enforcement costs