Florida ranks second in ICE arrests as DHS secretary credits local law enforcement

Only on Action News Jax, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is speaking about the impact local law enforcement agencies in Florida are having on the number of ICE arrests, a number that surged over the summer.

New data from the Prison Policy Initiative shows ICE made nearly 29,000 arrests in Florida from Jan. 20 to Aug. 5 of this year. The state ranks second only to Texas, which had nearly 54,000 ICE arrests in the same period.

Figures from the Deportation Data Project break it down even further. There were more than 3,300 immigration-related arrests in Florida in May. Two months later, that number jumped to more than 7,300 arrests in July alone.

Mullin says the spike is due in part to the state’s participation in the 287(g) program, which allows ICE to delegate immigration authority to state and local law enforcement officers.

“The state of Florida is probably the best actor we have with the 287(g) program, where they augment our force,” Mullin said.

In February 2025, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis directed all state law enforcement agencies to enter into the program, with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement completing all requirements on July 10.

Asked by Action News Jax whether he thinks the program has paid off, Mullin said, “Absolutely, 287(g) program has allowed us to speed up the immigration enforcement.”

On the other side of this contentious issue, Maria Garcia with the Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance says the program hasn’t paid off for the working people of Florida.

“It has paid for the politicians who can use these deportation numbers and say that they’re winning and they’re deporting so many people to win elections,” Garcia said.

Garcia says the alliance will demand that whoever becomes the next sheriff of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office drop the agency’s 287(g) agreement with the federal government.

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