Palm Beach County has emerged as the leading region for immigration activity in South Florida, surpassing the combined efforts of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
As reported by CBS12, since August, Palm Beach County has encountered more than 750 immigration cases, outpacing the combined activity of Broward and Miami-Dade.
The county has implemented the federal 287(g) program in its "Task Force" form, allowing local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement tasks during their routine patrols, according to the report.
Palm Beach is notably home to Mar-a-Lago, the private club and residence of former President Trump.
Of the 20 police departments within the county, 19 have signed 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including Delray Beach, which discreetly adopted the procedure earlier this month.
In Florida, over 300 law enforcement agencies utilize the 287(g) program, nearly half of the approximately 600 nationwide that have adopted it.
CBS reports that while there is no state requirement to adopt the procedure, there are political pressures pushing for its implementation in Florida.
The Sun Sentinel notes that places like Fort Myers and Key West have received letters from the Florida Attorney General's Office threatening elected officials with potential disqualification. Besides these threats, the state government has also offered financial incentives to cities.
In mid-November, Florida released more than 200 undocumented foreign criminals, many of whom were sexual predators of minors from Cuba and other countries, detained during "Operation Dirtbag," jointly executed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
The operation, officially called "Operation Criminal Return," lasted 10 days and resulted in the arrest of at least 230 illegal immigrants with serious criminal backgrounds, including sexual offenders, as announced by ICE and Florida law enforcement officials during a press conference on Thursday.
The operation led to the apprehension of 54 sexual predators, 164 sexual offenders, two convicted murderers, one individual convicted for drug trafficking, and eight accused of other serious crimes, reported Madison Sheahan, ICE Deputy Director.
Governor DeSantis stated that Florida has been "the most active state in the U.S. in combating illegal immigration."
Understanding Florida's Immigration Enforcement Efforts
What is the 287(g) program?
The 287(g) program is a federal initiative that allows state and local law enforcement officers to collaborate with federal immigration authorities to enforce immigration laws.
Why is Palm Beach County leading in immigration cases?
Palm Beach County has adopted the 287(g) program, enabling local law enforcement to carry out specific immigration enforcement duties, resulting in higher immigration case numbers compared to other counties.
What was the outcome of "Operation Dirtbag"?
"Operation Dirtbag" resulted in the arrest of over 230 illegal immigrants with serious criminal backgrounds, including sexual offenders and convicted murderers, in a joint effort by ICE and FDLE.