Nationwide — Gregory Tony, an African American sheriff in Broward County, Florida, mentioned his deputies won’t pursue undocumented immigrants who haven’t dedicated crimes. His stance drew speedy threats of authorized motion from the state’s lawyer normal.
Florida Legal professional Common James Uthmeier warned Tony in a letter that he may face a lawsuit and even elimination from workplace. Uthmeier accused him of violating state legislation that requires native companies to assist federal immigration enforcement.
In keeping with Florida Phoenix, the battle began when Tony advised county commissioners that his workplace, which covers 12 cities in South Florida, won’t assign extra deputies to immigration raids. He mentioned his precedence is public security, not rounding up immigrants with no felony data.
“In the case of immigration, I don’t care what nation you’re from. In case you commit against the law on this county, I’m coming for you,” Tony mentioned. “However what I refuse to do is take this notion that we have to be knocking on doorways, or arresting kids, or going into daycare facilities or eating places and taking and snatching folks off the streets who’ve been paying taxes and contributing to this society in some constructive kind.”
Broward County has two agreements with ICE below the 287(g) program. One includes screening folks already in jail, whereas the opposite permits job pressure operations on the streets. Tony famous his company assigned solely two employees members to those applications, a call that drew sharp criticism from Uthmeier.
In his response, Tony pointed to previous cooperation with federal authorities, together with joint efforts to arrest MS-13 gang members. He mentioned his workplace continues to work with ICE on felony instances however won’t commit sources to mass deportation efforts.
Florida leads the nation in ICE job pressure agreements, a coverage closely promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis. Uthmeier, who beforehand labored as DeSantis’ chief of employees, has additionally despatched comparable threats to native leaders who oppose the governor’s push for aggressive immigration enforcement.
On the identical time, Uthmeier is going through scrutiny of his personal. A federal decide is contemplating holding him in contempt after he dismissed a court docket order blocking a brand new immigration legislation as illegitimate. His attorneys argue he has no authority over sheriffs or police chiefs.
