TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Leon County Sheriff\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n
Under state law, the sheriff\u2019s office is required to cooperate with ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws, a sheriff\u2019s office spokesperson said. So, they need reimbursement from the State Board of Immigration Enforcement in the form of a grant.<\/p>\n
However, Leon County Commissioners will ultimately decide if the grant is accepted at their upcoming meeting Tuesday. <\/p>\n
According to the grant paperwork, Leon County could receive up to $499,523, though a sheriff\u2019s spokesperson stressed the sheriff\u2019s office will need to provide receipts and may actually receive less than the full amount in the end.<\/p>\n
More Tallahassee News<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d said Javonni Hampton, a LCSO spokesperson. \u201cReimbursement is limited to actual, documented expenses. It is too early to say if the total cost could exceed the amount reimbursed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s deputies.<\/p>\n
Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term, Tallahassee experienced one major immigration raid<\/a>, though local law enforcement did not participate.<\/p>\n Booking logs show some arrestees are detained so ICE can pick them up, including after offenses like driving without a license.<\/p>\n Read the full grant award agreement below:<\/p>\n Tune in to Eyewitness News at 5 and 6 for the full story. This story will also be updated this evening with full details. <\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n