Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said on June 12 that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are protected in Florida and that he will “not tolerate” riots like those seen in Los Angeles in recent days.
“Florida is the anti-riot state, and unlike California, we support law enforcement,” the Florida Attorney General said at a press conference on June 12, warning that the state will not tolerate violence or intimidation against ICE and Border Patrol officers.
“Border Patrol and ICE agents enforcing immigration law deserve protection from leftists trying to harm them. If the left doxes these agents, we will have their backs.
“Whether you make the poor choice to riot or publish an agent’s personal information online to bring harm, you are committing a crime in Florida. We will find you and hold you accountable.”
The newly appointed Florida attorney general ordered the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) to collaborate with federal law enforcement to prevent the leak of private information—known as “doxing”—about any agent or officer deployed in Florida. If an agent is doxed, that agent “will have a direct line of communication with local FHP leadership,” according to a statement from the attorney general’s office.
Another measure is that FHP officers will conduct routine welfare checks at doxed officers’ residences to ensure their safety and that of their families.
Law enforcement officials in Florida agreed with Uthmeier, emphasizing that Florida is not a sanctuary state for people who are in the country illegally and that they will take steps to prevent violent unrest in the southern state.
“The only sanctuaries in Florida are to protect animals, not criminals,” Florida Highway Patrol Col. Gary Howze said. “Florida is not a sanctuary state.”
Wayne Ivey, sheriff of Brevard County, which is near Orlando, Florida, said: “Peaceful protest is part of our democracy and, when done right, we will make sure you have a safe environment to do it in.
“But if you let it turn violent, you’re gonna find out real quick what Brevard County is all about as [what] you see taking place in other parts of the country ain’t gonna happen here.”
The prosecutor also announced that Florida is the first state to receive an ICE liaison officer, which will strengthen immigration enforcement efforts in the state and provide direct communication with ICE and state and local law enforcement.
Florida has led the way in enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement by working closely with ICE, according to Selene Rodriguez, campaign director for Secure and Sovereign Texas at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
In April, ICE worked with local police in Florida to arrest more than 1,100 illegal immigrants.
This came after Florida county sheriffs and officers from 67 county jails signed so-called 287(g) agreements in February to work with ICE, allowing agents and officers to carry out arrest warrants for illegal immigrants.
Protests and riots against ICE in Los Angeles have been ongoing for a week following the arrests of illegal immigrants in recent weeks and featured violent confrontations between protesters and law enforcement personnel.
President Donald Trump ordered the activation of the California National Guard in Los Angeles in response to the unrest. California Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, saying the president acted illegally in federalizing the National Guard.
A district judge on June 12 ordered the administration to return control of the National Guard to Newsom before an appeals court judge hours later temporarily restored Trump’s control.
Darlene McCormick Sánchez contributed to this article.
