Key Takeaways
- Florida Highway Patrol widely adopted the 287G program for immigration enforcement.
- The 287G program deputizes state and local officers to perform federal immigration duties.
- The Trump administration revived the task force model to increase deportations.
- Civil liberties groups criticize 287G, citing concerns about racial profiling.
- A ride-along detailed traffic stops leading to detentions and a subsequent detainee escape.
Deep Dive
- Reporter Ariane Campo-Flores joined Florida Highway Patrol Master Sergeant Tony Kingery on a ride-along.
- During a traffic stop for a missing bumper and taillight, Sgt. Kingery questioned a driver's citizenship after the driver presented a Guatemalan consular ID.
- The driver and passenger were subsequently detained on suspicion of being in the country illegally.
- The 287G program, originating from a late 1990s federal law, allows immigration agencies to deputize local law enforcement for immigration functions.
- Under the Trump administration, the 'task force model' of 287G was revived, enabling police to act like ICE agents during routine duties.
- The program's goal, under the Trump administration's call for 'force multipliers,' is to enhance ICE's capabilities by increasing personnel and encounters.
- Florida has significantly embraced the 287G program, allocating substantial funds to immigration enforcement.
- The majority of the country's 287G task force agreements are in Florida, with nearly all Florida Highway Patrol troopers trained for immigration duties.
- Civil liberties groups criticize the 287G program, arguing it leads to racial profiling and distracts local police from primary duties.
- A pre-operation briefing instructed Florida Highway Patrol troopers on deployment in Tom Beach County, focusing on identifying vehicles possibly carrying undocumented immigrants along Interstate 95.
- During a ride-along, the reporter observed traffic stops, including one for a missing trailer license plate, leading to a driver suspected of being in the country illegally being detained.
- Another stop involved a white van with a broken taillight, where the 28-year-old Guatemalan driver and an 18-year-old passenger faced detention.
- Two detainees, including the 28-year-old Guatemalan driver, were placed in zip ties and loaded into a pickup truck for transport to a Border Patrol station.
- They escaped 15 minutes later when the vehicle stopped, reportedly due to child locks not being engaged on the back doors.
- A manhunt with helicopter support ensued; by day's end, 23 people were detained by FHP, the driver was later arrested, but the younger passenger remained at large.