Florida Pays $1.7 Million to Police for ICE Collaboration

The state of Florida reimbursed over $1.7 million to law enforcement agencies in Volusia and Flagler counties for their collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to The Observer.

During a press conference in Daytona Beach, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia defended the measures as part of a strategy to “create deterrence” and curb irregular immigration in the state.

Where Did the Funds Go?

The largest allocation went to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, which received over $725,000. The funds were used for:

• Training agents to support ICE operations
• Rapid identification technology linked to federal databases
• Stipends for officers participating in immigration operations

Sheriff Rick Staly left no room for ambiguity: “If you come to Flagler County, commit a crime, you should expect to be arrested, and if you are here illegally, we will hand you over to ICE.”

Cuban Cases Highlighted

During the conference, Staly spotlighted specific cases involving Cuban citizens:

• A Cuban man sentenced in 2025 for sexual assault against a minor, receiving a six-year prison sentence with deportation scheduled after serving his time
• Another Cuban arrested for stealing nearly $4,000 worth of meat from a Publix supermarket

Since February 2025, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office has recorded approximately 220 encounters with individuals referred to ICE or Border Patrol for immigration detentions.

New Legislative Proposals

Ingoglia also announced initiatives to further tighten Florida’s immigration landscape:

1. Ban commercial driver’s licenses for individuals without legal status
2. Suspend exams in languages other than English
3. Expand the HALO law to make it a misdemeanor to film federal agents from less than 25 feet away

Impact on the Cuban Community

Florida is home to one of the largest Cuban communities in the United States. Many Cubans have pending asylum cases, expired paroles or I-220A supervision orders, or unresolved proceedings.

While authorities insist the actions target those who commit crimes, the reality is that police-ICE collaboration operations create a climate of fear that affects the entire community, regardless of immigration status.

This news adds to the recent wave of ICE arrests of Cubans and the debate over deportations to third countries that has marked the first weeks of 2026.