Florida officials announce new immigration enforcement initiative

New Florida immigration enforcement initiative

Attorney General James Uthmeier hosted a press conference with several other officials on Monday morning in Live Oak, Florida. During the event, the officials announced a new immigration enforcement initiative.

LIVE OAK. Fla. - Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and several other officials announced a new immigration enforcement initiative at a press conference on Monday morning in Live Oak, Florida. 

The initiative focuses on enhanced state-level enforcement and collaboration with federal agencies. 

New immigration enforcement initiative

What we know:

The announcement on Monday was the latest development in a series of similar actions Uthmeier has taken since being appointed in February 2025. 

Uthmeier was joined at the press conference by several officials, including Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) Commissioner Wilton Simpson, DACS Colonel Rick "Lee" Adams, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Executive Associate Director Garrett Ripa, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Chief/U.S. Border Patrol Miami Samuel Briggs II.

The announcement included a new partnership with federal agencies that aims to increase immigration enforcement at the state's agricultural inspection stations. The program specifically targets checkpoints operated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) along major interstate highways.

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Currently, FDACS has 23 agricultural inspection stations that have been deputized to assist with immigration enforcement. While the stations' primary role is to inspect vehicles for agricultural safety and food quality, in 2025 all Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) officers were certified under the federal 287(g) program. This allows them to assist with federal immigration enforcement if they encounter individuals violating federal law.

What's next:

Officials said a new station, Station No. 20 — Highway 231, will be added soon. The station will be located near the Florida/Alabama border. In addition, more pullover lanes are planned along the northern border. In the next few months, new advanced X-ray technology will also be released, so officials can see inside the trucks as they pull through the stations. 

‘No state like Florida’

What they're saying:

Uthmeier said that nearly 150 undocumented immigrants have been arrested or turned over by FDACS in the last year. 

"When it comes to fighting for President Trump, there's no state like Florida, and there's no leadership team like Gov. (Ron) DeSantis in our cabinet," Uthmeier said.  

3 dead after Florida crash involving undocumented immigrant driver

Dig deeper:

The Florida officials also touched upon the case involving Harjinder Singh at the news conference. Singh is the semi-truck driver accused of making an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike that then caused a deadly crash. Singh allegedly entered the United States illegally. 

In response to the crash, Uthmeier has called on the federal government to revoke the commercial driver's license (CDL) programs of states that are failing to comply with federal regulations. The attorney general has vowed to go after everyone responsible for allowing Singh to drive the tractor-trailer.

3 killed on Florida Turnpike after semi makes illegal U-Turn: FHP

Three people ? two men and a woman ? were killed in Florida after a semi-truck driver hauling a trailer made an illegal U-Turn on the Florida Turnpike, locked all lanes, and collided with a minivan, according to an investigation by officials.

Trump's immigration crackdown

Big picture view:

At the news conference, the Florida leaders blamed former president Joe Biden's "failed border and immigration policies," arguing that his rhetoric encouraged more undocumented immigrants to cross the border. 

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Uthmeier said that Florida has been a leader in enforcing President Donald Trump's immigration policies, and emphasized that the president has "completely closed down the border."

Since taking office again in January, Trump's administration has implemented restrictive immigration enforcement policies through executive orders and legislation. These actions significantly increased detention and deportation, expanded the military's role at the border, and imposed new limits on legal and humanitarian pathways to enter the country.