Florida law enforcement agencies receive millions for immigration cooperation

CENTRAL FLORIDA — Florida set aside $250 million in taxpayer money to help local law enforcement agencies carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. But a 9 Investigates review found some of that funding is paying for equipment deputies use every day, whether they are enforcing immigration laws or not.

From radios and body cameras to ADA-compliant vans and internet upgrades, millions of dollars designated for immigration enforcement are helping agencies purchase equipment and technology also used in routine policing.

The question is how those purchases meet the state’s requirements for spending the money.

Where did the $175 million go?

In March, sheriffs from across Florida stood alongside state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, posing with checks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Let’s start giving the money away,” Ingoglia said during one presentation.

The checks were part of Florida’s effort to reimburse agencies cooperating with federal immigration authorities, including through 287(g) agreements that allow trained local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under federal supervision.

Florida allocated $250 million to the initiative. According to state funding records reviewed by 9 Investigates, more than $175 million has been distributed.

The amounts received by Central Florida agencies vary considerably:

Osceola sheriff explains his agency’s role

Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon told Channel 9 his deputies are not actively searching neighborhoods or workplaces for undocumented immigrants.

“We are not actively out rolling around like other people are at job sites looking for people. We’re not doing that,” Blackmon said.

Instead, he said deputies check immigration status during routine law enforcement encounters, including traffic stops and calls for service.

“If you’re speeding, you run a stop sign, you’re at a store and you do theft, you cause a fight, you’re involved in a fight. We have to go and investigate,” he said.

State records reviewed by 9 Investigates show Osceola County reported nearly 180 immigration-related arrests. Comparing its funding with its reported arrests produces a figure of roughly $75,000 per arrest.

That calculation does not mean each arrest cost taxpayers $75,000. It compares the total funding award with reported arrests, and some purchases involve equipment the agency can use for years.

Statewide, Florida’s immigration enforcement dashboard reports approximately 45,000 arrests and 35,000 encounters since Aug. 1, 2025.

Those numbers, however, do not explain how individual agencies are spending their reimbursements.

Radios, cameras and internet upgrades

Channel 9 requested information from local sheriff’s offices about purchases made with immigration enforcement reimbursements.

The responses included radios, body cameras, ADA-compliant vans and internet upgrades.

The state’s funding requirements say:

“Funding received under this award must be used for allowable costs directly associated with cooperating and coordinating with federal agencies to enforce federal immigration laws.”

Blackmon defended the purchases, saying deputies need the same equipment to perform immigration-related duties.

“In Osceola County, it’s very well spent because right here, we’ve got millions of dollars invested, millions of dollars in body cameras, at $13,600 per portable radio,” he said.

He also said state reimbursements relieve pressure on the county budget.

“Now we’re taking the onus off of them for $3 million for radios that they were paying for out of their budget,” Blackmon said.

“So, I have saved our taxpayers over $13 million this year.”

His position is that the program allows the agency to purchase necessary equipment without relying on its existing county budget.

Equipment having multiple uses does not, by itself, establish a violation of the funding rules. Determining whether expenses qualify requires examining how each purchase was justified and approved.

Critics question spending priorities

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, questioned whether Florida should spend so much on immigration enforcement while residents struggle with rising costs.

“We’ve seen time and time again money that could have been used for the affordability crisis is being misspent in this way,” Eskamani said.

Her criticism concerns both how the funding is distributed and whether the money could address other needs across Florida.

Florida’s CFO defends the funding

9 Investigates asked Ingoglia whether distributing approximately $175 million to local agencies was a good use of taxpayer money.

“It was a national security issue. So, this should be the way going forward, 287-G agreements, giving law enforcement the tools that they need in order to help put away a lot of these people who are creating or committing crimes,” he said.

Ingoglia said immigration enforcement remains a priority and local agencies need resources to cooperate with federal authorities.

“So, I think we need to continue making sure that we work hand in glove with the federal government to crack down on illegal immigrants coming over and committing crimes, especially in my purview financial crimes,” he said.

Millions more remain

With approximately $175 million distributed, roughly $75 million remains from Florida’s original $250 million allocation.

Additional money could go to local agencies as the state continues its immigration enforcement efforts. The program’s future direction is also a question heading into the Nov. 3 election.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

©2026 Cox Media Group