Florida attorney general rejects sheriffs' push to ease deportations

Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald on Mar 17, 2026

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Tuesday rejected a striking effort among some of the state’s top sheriffs to soften immigration enforcement, saying he would not support their plan to formally urge Congress to scale back federal deportation policy.

At a press conference in Orlando, Uthmeier drew a firm line against a newly emerging stance from members of Florida’s State Immigration Enforcement Council, who yesterday broke with the state’s traditionally hardline approach and called for more leniency toward undocumented immigrants without criminal records.

“I don’t write the law — I enforce it,” Uthmeier said. “If people are here illegally, then they are breaking the law, and we are going to enforce it.”

The comments put Uthmeier squarely at odds with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and other council members, who suggested Monday that some undocumented immigrants — particularly those who are working, raising families and have no criminal history — should be allowed to remain in the country under certain conditions.

Judd, a longtime ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis and a key architect of Florida’s aggressive immigration posture, even floated drafting a letter to President Donald Trump and congressional leaders urging a more targeted approach to deportations.

Uthmeier made clear Tuesday he is not on board and said he “would not support the letter.”

The response underscores a sharp and unusual divide within Florida’s Republican law enforcement ranks. For years, state leaders under DeSantis have pushed sweeping cooperation with federal immigration authorities, with policies premised on the idea that any undocumented immigrant in the country is in violation of the law and subject to removal.

But several sheriffs on the state council argued at a meeting on Monday that the current approach may be too broad, warning that mass deportation efforts are sweeping up people who are contributing members of their communities.

Uthmeier, however, rejected that distinction, pointing to cases in which undocumented immigrants committed serious crimes and arguing that immigration violations themselves carry public safety risks.

He also credited Florida’s aggressive enforcement strategy with broader public safety gains, citing declining crime rates and a significant drop in fentanyl-related deaths.

“We’re the safest big state in the country to raise a family, and we’re going to keep it that way,” he said.

The attorney general also reiterated that local governments do not have discretion to opt out of immigration enforcement, referencing recent state outreach to cities like Tampa. Under Florida law, he said, local officials are required to use their “best efforts” to assist federal authorities.

“This is not optional,” Uthmeier said. “We are not going to have sanctuary jurisdictions in Florida.”