TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a grant just under $500,000 to reimburse the expenses it has and will incur for cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Under state law, the sheriff’s office is required to cooperate with ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said. So, they need reimbursement from the State Board of Immigration Enforcement in the form of a grant.
However, Leon County Commissioners will ultimately decide if the grant is accepted at their upcoming meeting Tuesday.
According to the grant paperwork, Leon County could receive up to $499,523, though a sheriff’s spokesperson stressed the sheriff’s office will need to provide receipts and may actually receive less than the full amount in the end.
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“The grant is structured as a cost-reimbursement program and is based on projected costs associated with immigration enforcement activities that occur during normal law enforcement operations, including those related to compliance with the 287(g) agreement required under state law,” said Javonni Hampton, a LCSO spokesperson. “Reimbursement is limited to actual, documented expenses. It is too early to say if the total cost could exceed the amount reimbursed.”
The money could be used to reimburse expenses from February 2025 to June 2026, according to the grant paperwork. Hampton said the money would not change the day-to-day policing of sheriff’s deputies.
Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term, Tallahassee experienced one major immigration raid, though local law enforcement did not participate.
Booking logs show some arrestees are detained so ICE can pick them up, including after offenses like driving without a license.
Read the full grant award agreement below:
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