The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has made 710 roadside deportations — where individuals are detained during routine traffic stops and sent back to their countries — since Jan. 23, 2025, Sheriff Rob Hardwick said at a law enforcement press conference Tuesday.
Another 421 people living in the country without legal permission were deported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection from the St. Johns County Jail, where they were held on other criminal charges.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters’ numbers were slightly lower—the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested and processed 545 people for deportation in partnership with federal authorities.
More than 140 of those individuals had been charged with driving under the influence, Waters said at the gathering.
To aid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia was on hand in St. Augustine to present $1.8 million to northeast Florida sheriff’s offices.
“We are utilizing every resource available to right the wrong of a de facto open border, and every sheriff up here can attest that the cost of illegal immigration is far too high,” Ingoglia said during the press conference.
Hardwick said the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office will assign 104 deputies who will work with ICE to identify and process people for deportation.
The officers, certified under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996, will “assist our federal government and ICE in removing people living here illegally, especially those who are committing crimes, from our communities,” Ingoglia said.
Though supported by some Florida legislators, the 287(g) program has been criticized by some immigrant-rights groups that say it damages relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Others say it allows police to better protect citizens.
After thanking Ingoglia for the funds, Sheriff Gordon Smith of Bradford County raised his voice to address reporters.
“To you in media: Let me explain something to you. Law enforcement is not politics. It’s protection,” he said, summarizing the sentiment among the gathered sheriffs.
Sheriff’s offices received the following allocations: St. Johns County, $1 million; Sheriff Michelle Cook in Clay County, $606,151; Homer “Gator” DeLoach in Putnam County, $108,384; Waters in Jacksonville, $94,000; and Smith in Bradford County, $25,683.
Ingoglia said the funds were provided through the state’s board of immigration, to reimburse counties for programs and equipment needed to achieve Section 287(g) certification. It will also serve as a bonus for currently certified officers and those assisting in the program.
Hardwick said St. Johns County wants to lead the way in Florida’s collaboration with ICE. “We’re going to lead the front, we’re going to lead by example, and we’re going to set the tone for the rest of the United States,” Hardwick said.
