The Tampa Police Department (TPD) is set to receive $430,000 it requested from the Florida Board of Immigration Enforcement to fund collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While some money will go to training and bonuses, $293,000 will be spent on overtime for 18 police officers who are expected to participate in undefined “immigration enforcement activities.”
TPD, like many other Tampa Bay law enforcement agencies, signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE even though it didn’t have to, empowering police officers who receive training to act as immigration enforcement agents. Specifically, all local agencies in the area have signed on to the Task Force Model—a form of 287(g) agreement that allows for street-level enforcement—enabling local officers to question individuals about their immigration status. The Task Force Model was practically eliminated under the Obama administration after it resulted in what the American Immigration Council said was widespread racial profiling. It was reintroduced earlier this year under the Trump administration and is now the most common form of 287(g) agreement in the state of Florida as of publishing, per ICE documentation.
Concerns over eroding community trust have kept some local law enforcement wary of acting in this capacity despite signing agreements to do so…