Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier took to X to publicly question Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony’s stance on enforcing former President Donald Trump’s new immigration policy. Uthmeier made his position clear: comply or face removal from office.
During a June 3 budget meeting, Sheriff Tony stated that Broward has “other priorities” and that “immigration is not one of them.” He added, “I won’t participate in it,” showing little interest in further discussing the matter, which he said falls outside the department’s scope. Three days later, Uthmeier issued a formal letter demanding clarification and cooperation from Sheriff Tony.
In the letter, Uthmeier called Tony’s remarks “problematic” and cited Florida Statute 908.104(1), which he says requires local law enforcement to use their “best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.” He also referenced recent violent incidents in South Florida — including a Brazilian man accused of sexual assault in Deerfield Beach and a December 2024 human smuggling case involving 11 Chinese nationals near Fort Lauderdale — to emphasize the urgency of strict immigration enforcement.
Ultimately, Uthmeier implied that failure to comply with the law could result in Sheriff Tony’s removal and argued that immigration enforcement should be a top priority for the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Tony responded swiftly, stating, “It is BSO’s priority to address criminal activity within our community, including crimes committed by unauthorized aliens, and to work with our federal partners in this endeavor.” He also outlined multiple ways the Broward Sheriff’s Office has supported U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) in past cases, as well as the numerous contracts the department has fulfilled with the agency.
Over the past several months, Trump has made good on his campaign promise to launch what could become the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. To carry it out, more than 600 local law enforcement agencies have agreed to cooperate with I.C.E.
In Miami-Dade County, commissioners recently voted 3–2 to comply with I.C.E. directives — a move criticized by some local leaders. “They’re arresting community members and neighbors for pursuing the American dream,” said Abel S. Delgado, president of the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus.
In a recent video posted to X, Uthmeier promoted the idea of “Alligator Alcatraz” — a proposed large-scale detention center in the Everglades meant to house the rising number of detainees. On Monday, June 23, 2025, the DeSantis administration seized land for the project, with plans to open the 1,000-bed facility within days.
Seems problematic that the AG wants to remove the sheriff for not complying to an order from the AG. an order that was deemed unconditional by a miami federal judge, hence a TRO that was placed on the execution of said law which the AG has flouted and subsequently landed himself a contempt of court order. Trying to under the alternate reality all these acolytes live in.