Key Takeaways
• Sarasota and Manatee deputies begin ICE-led 287(g) Task Force Model training for street-level immigration enforcement.
• Florida is now the only state with all 67 counties participating in the 287(g) program, effective February 2025 agreements.
• $250 million allocated by Florida to cover local law enforcement costs tied to expanded immigration enforcement responsibilities.
In Sarasota and Manatee counties, changes are happening in the way local law enforcement works with immigration authorities. The sheriff’s offices in both counties are now taking part in a federal training program guided by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. This program is called the 287(g) program, and it gives local police new powers to help with immigration enforcement activities that used to be done only by federal officers.
What Is Happening in Sarasota and Manatee Counties?
Right now, both Sarasota and Manatee County sheriffs’ offices are joining an online training run by ICE. Their goal is to get ready for a bigger role in identifying and acting against people who may be in the United States 🇺🇸 without proper papers. This training is part of a much broader plan in Florida, where every sheriff in all 67 counties signed deals to take part in the 287(g) program. This makes Florida unique, as it’s the only state where every county is now involved in this federal initiative.
The 287(g) program is not entirely new in these counties. Both Sarasota and Manatee already used the program but in a smaller way, known as the Warrant Service Officer model. This model allowed sheriff’s deputies only to help with paperwork related to people who are already in jail. Now, however, both counties are getting ready to use a much bigger model, called the Task Force Model. This will allow deputies to do what is called “street-level immigration enforcement.” In simpler words, sheriffs’ deputies will be allowed to check the immigration status and even arrest people based on immigration violations outside the jail, such as on the streets or in homes.
The Details of the Training
The training that Sarasota and Manatee deputies go through has many parts:
- They talk about what the agreement lets them do, as well as what they can’t do.
- They learn about immigration laws.
- ICE teaches them about when and how they can use force.
- There are lessons about civil rights laws to make sure everyone’s rights are protected.
- They get instructions on detention rules when it comes to people who aren’t citizens.
- There’s a focus on reaching out to the public and handling complaints, so people know how to speak up if there is a problem.
- They also cover topics about responsibility and what can happen if mistakes are made.
- The training covers cross-cultural issues, helping deputies understand people from different backgrounds.
– Sheriff’s deputies learn about their legal responsibilities under federal law.
One thing that’s changed recently is how long the training takes. Before, the Jail Enforcement model—a different part of 287(g)—took four weeks to finish. Now, it’s been cut down to just five days. The Warrant Service Officer model training, which used to be a full-day course of eight hours, has been shortened to only four hours. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri from Pinellas County said deputies can be fully trained in just 15 to 30 days. The goal is to get deputies working with ICE more quickly than before.
Expansion of Powers for Deputies
When deputies in Sarasota and Manatee finish this training, they will have new powers that go beyond their old duties. Now, under the Task Force Model of the 287(g) program, they can:
- Talk to people they suspect might not have legal immigration status in the United States 🇺🇸 and ask them questions.
- Prepare documents to begin immigration charges, which will be checked by ICE.
- Write and issue immigration detainers. These are official requests to keep someone in jail so ICE can take over the case.
- Take charge and keep someone in custody, either after ICE arrests them or after another law enforcement agency brings them in.
For Manatee County, Sheriff Rick Wells signed a special Task Force Model agreement with ICE. This happened on February 26, 2025. Under this deal, ICE has promised to give all needed training and supplies to the sheriff’s office. You can read the details of this agreement directly on the official ICE website.
The expansion to the Task Force Model means deputies can now do enforcement on the streets, not just in the jails. This is a big change, and it comes as Florida steps up efforts to work closely with the Trump administration on immigration.
Why Is Florida Pushing for These Changes?
Governor Ron DeSantis has said that Florida is “leading the way for the United States 🇺🇸” when it comes to enforcing immigration laws. He and state leaders believe that by training every county’s sheriff for the 287(g) program, Florida will keep the state safer and help carry out the Trump administration’s policies on immigration.
To make sure sheriffs’ offices can do this work, the state set aside $250 million. This money will help pay for any extra costs that come from helping ICE. For example, there may be costs for training, new equipment, or more deputies needed to help with these new duties.
Manatee County’s agreement stands out because it allows the sheriff’s deputies to work as a team with ICE agents both in the jails and out on the streets. This is made possible by the Task Force Model, which opens the door to more local police involvement in immigration enforcement than ever before.
What Are the Concerns and Challenges?
With these new powers, there are also concerns. Critics worry that giving more power to local police in immigration enforcement could increase the chances of mistakes being made. They point to past issues with similar programs around the country, including:
- Racial profiling: This is when someone is questioned or arrested mainly because of their race or looks, not because of any evidence of a crime.
- Strained community relations: When police focus on immigration enforcement, people in immigrant communities may become afraid to talk to police, even when they are victims or witnesses of crime.
- Civil rights: Some worry that the rights of people—including those who are here legally—could be put at risk if deputies aren’t careful to follow the rules.
There have been calls for more careful public outreach and better complaint procedures, so people have a safe way to report if they think a deputy has treated them unfairly because of the new program.
According to VisaVerge.com, experts are watching very closely to see how these changes take place and whether more complaints or legal challenges come up as Sarasota and Manatee deputies begin their street-level immigration checks. The goal from all sides is to make sure that legal rights are followed, while still letting police do their jobs as the new agreements intend.
How the 287(g) Program Works
To better understand all this, it helps to know more about the 287(g) program. This program is named after a part of United States 🇺🇸 immigration law. It lets local police departments agree to take on some immigration enforcement powers, but only after their deputies go through ICE’s training program. Local officers don’t become ICE agents, but they can now hold and help process suspected immigration law violators under ICE rules.
There are three main ways the program can work:
- Jail Enforcement Model: Deputies check the immigration status of people who are already arrested and in jail.
- Warrant Service Officer Model: Deputies help ICE with paperwork, mostly in jails, connected to immigration detainers.
- Task Force Model: Deputies can do “street-level enforcement,” questioning and detaining people they find in the community, not only in jails.
Sarasota and Manatee counties started with the Warrant Service Officer model. Now, they are moving into the Task Force Model, which is the most far-reaching form.
The Role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
ICE is the federal agency in charge of immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸, especially when it comes to finding people who may not have permission to be here. Under these new agreements, ICE:
- Sets the training
- Checks any documents or cases started by local deputies
- Can take custody of anyone held under these programs
- Provides rules for using force and for handling public complaints
In Manatee County, ICE also provides all the equipment, materials, and supervision needed for local deputies to do these jobs correctly.
If you want to find out more about how the 287(g) program works or what ICE does, you can visit the official ICE 287(g) program information page.
What Does This Mean for Local Communities?
As deputies get more power to help in immigration enforcement, some people believe it will help keep Sarasota and Manatee safer by catching people who broke laws. Others worry it could lead to fear and distrust between police and the immigrant community. Local leaders say they want to strike a balance between public safety and protecting the rights of everyone who lives in these counties.
Community meetings and public outreach will remain important as these new powers roll out. Sheriffs’ offices say they will listen to concerns, handle complaints fairly, and work to prevent any unfair treatment. The hope is that if the public feels they are treated fairly and their rights respected, safety will improve for everyone.
Possible Impacts—Looking Ahead
For those living in Sarasota and Manatee, the expansion of the 287(g) program may bring both changes and questions:
- People who are in the United States 🇺🇸 without the right papers may fear more encounters with law enforcement, not just in jail but out on the street.
- Local businesses and employers could see workers afraid to show up or fearful of stepping into public spaces.
- Immigrant families might be split, and children could be especially scared.
- On the other hand, people who support these laws believe they will help control crime and strengthen respect for the law.
The state’s large investment shows Florida’s leaders are serious about backing these changes. If things go smoothly, other states may look to Florida as an example. If problems or lawsuits appear, changes could be made or the program could even be rolled back.
Summary and Next Steps
To sum up, Sarasota and Manatee counties are at the center of a major move in Florida. By training deputies under the ICE-led 287(g) program, both counties are set to play a much bigger part in enforcing immigration laws—both in the jails and out in the wider community. The program has fans and critics, but all eyes are on how well it works in practice and whether community trust can be kept high.
For now, it’s important for anyone living in Sarasota or Manatee to stay informed, know your rights, and use official government resources to get information. If you have questions about what the 287(g) program means for you or your family, you can learn more from ICE’s official 287(g) program webpage, which explains the rules and responsibilities of local police working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
As these changes settle in, look for updates from local news, community groups, or trusted sites like VisaVerge.com, which will keep you posted on any new developments, legal cases, or important changes to these agreements. The story is unfolding, and everyone in Sarasota and Manatee will be watching closely.
Learn Today
287(g) Program → A federal initiative allowing local police to help enforce immigration law after specialized ICE training.
Task Force Model → The most expansive 287(g) approach, granting local deputies authority for street-level immigration enforcement outside jails.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → Federal agency overseeing immigration law, including detention, removal, and training for local law enforcement.
Immigration Detainer → An official request from ICE to hold someone in jail beyond their release date for immigration enforcement.
Warrant Service Officer Model → A limited 287(g) model enabling deputies to assist ICE mainly with jail paperwork and detainers.
This Article in a Nutshell
Sarasota and Manatee counties are expanding their role in federal immigration enforcement through the 287(g) Task Force Model. Deputies now receive ICE training, gaining power for street-level immigration checks. Florida’s statewide commitment, backed by $250 million, aims for public safety while stirring community debate over civil rights and effective oversight.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• ACLU challenges 287(g) program partnerships with local sheriffs
• ICE Unleashes 287(g) Program on Local Police Forces
• 287(g) Program lets local police help Department of Homeland Security enforce immigration laws
• Trump administration expands 287(g) agreements with local police
• 287(g) immigration enforcement program expands to Mid-Michigan sheriffs
