TALLAHASSEE, FL - One of Law Enforcement Today’s favorite sheriffs has been appointed by the Florida senate president to serve on the state’s newly minted State Immigration Enforcement Council, The Ledger reports.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri were appointed to the panel by Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, a Republican. This panel was established by the Florida legislature last week as part of several immigration measures adopted during the special legislative session held last week.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis immediately signed the bill into law.
The newly created board includes eight members from law enforcement, including police chiefs and four sheriffs. The governor, attorney general, chief financial officer, and commissioner of agriculture each appoint one chief of police, while the Senate president and House speaker each appoint two sheriffs.
Judd has been an outspoken critic of the country’s open border policies, which exploded under the Biden administration but have been partially checked by President Trump. House Speaker Daniel Perez, a Miami Republican, appointed Duval County Sheriff T.K. Waters and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell to the board. Each member will serve four-year terms. The board’s chairman, one of the sheriffs, will be selected by the members.
“Florida is so far ahead of other states,” Judd said in a news release. “From the Governor to the Legislature to state and local law enforcement, we are all working together to vigorously enforce the laws. I appreciate that under President Trump, the federal government will be meeting their responsibilities head-on.
“The State Immigration Enforcement Council will serve as a voice for local law enforcement and help make certain we are ready to assist the Trump Administration with the most significant crackdown on illegal immigration in the nation. President Albritton has been a friend for decades, and I appreciate the trust he is placing in me to serve in this role.”
Contrast Florida’s approach with that of blue states that are suing the administration over the president’s executive order blocking so-called “birthright citizenship,” which some claim guarantees illegal aliens born in the country automatic citizenship under the 14th Amendment, Section 1.
However, some legal experts disagree with their interpretation of the amendment, noting that pro-illegal alien advocates disregard the portion that reads “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” This issue is likely to end up in the Supreme Court.
The State Immigration Enforcement Council will assist the state board “by providing insight and feedback regarding the enforcement of federal immigration law.”
The council has the authority to seek guidance from ICE on training and strategy initiatives to encourage participation in the federal 287(g) program, under which ICE delegates immigration enforcement to state and local law enforcement.
They will also provide recommendations on financial resources necessary to support local law enforcement, enhance information-sharing resources among law enforcement agencies, and increase the number of detention beds available to ICE.
“Sheriff Gualtieri and Sheriff Judd are two of the most experienced and well-respected law enforcement officers in the country,” Albritton said in the release. “Their wisdom and experience are highly valued, and I am honored they have agreed to represent the Senate on the State Immigration Enforcement Council. They have been with us every step of the way, providing insight and counsel from the perspective of the brave men and women who are on the front lines protecting our communities.”
Judd is known for his plain-spoken style. In fact, some news channels in the Sunshine State have memorialized some of his “greatest hits.”
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