A Florida Highway Patrol investigation led to 354 people being detained and accused of violating immigration law in Brevard County and Central Florida during a four-day operation, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins[1] said.
The detainees will be processed and sent to Alligator Alcatraz[2] or other federal facilities and then deported, authorities said.
Collins, who has not formally announced that he is running for Governor as speculation intensifies[3] about his ambitions for higher office, spoke at a press conference with law enforcement officials at his side.
Authorities did not provide many details about the sting and what detainees were doing to attract law enforcement’s attention.
State law enforcement officials are working closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol to vet people’s immigration status at roadside stops, said David Kerner[4], Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles[5].
“I believe we’re the only state law enforcement agency or otherwise to have full-time troopers dedicated to immigration enforcement 24/7 in addition to the nearly 2,000 state troopers that have been deputized by ICE as delegated immigration officers,” Kerner said. “We deploy weekly to different parts of this great state, different counties, in conjunction with the local Sheriff to run these operations.”
Florida officials have regularly touted the state’s cooperation with the federal government to deport undocumented immigrants.
In addition, Collins said the state is requiring hospitals to document health care costs for undocumented immigrants to find out the true cost in the system. The Florida Highway Patrol is also requiring commercial truck drivers to know English to read road signs.
“More than 170 commercial vehicle enforcement troopers are now actively conducting roadside inspections across the state,” Collins said.
The Lieutenant Governor declared that Florida is “firing in all cylinders.”
“What we want people to know is we take this serious. Florida will lead from the front,” he said.
Some Democrats have accused Republican leaders of being cruel in their efforts to target illegal immigration, like when the Republican-controlled Legislature passed legislation to remove in-state tuition waivers[6] for the children of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States.
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References
- ^ Jay Collins (www.flgov.com)
- ^ Alligator Alcatraz (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ as speculation intensifies (www.politico.com)
- ^ David Kerner (www.flhsmv.gov)
- ^ Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (www.flhsmv.gov)
- ^ passed legislation to remove in-state tuition waivers (floridapolitics.com)