The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office in Florida is working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to find and arrest illegal migrants. This partnership aims to stop human smuggling and trafficking along Interstate 95. A team of local, state, and federal officers regularly conducts operations to catch those entering the country illegally.
In one recent case, officers found two Guatemalan migrants in a broken-down truck in St. Augustine. One of them, 24-year-old Alexander Aguilar Velasquez, had ignored a court date and had past encounters with ICE. He was arrested and taken to an ICE facility in Jacksonville for deportation. The second migrant, a 19-year-old, was released but given a court date to review his case.
Local police are using the 287(g) program, which allows them to help ICE with immigration enforcement. Sheriff Hardwick, who leads these efforts, says public safety is the top priority. His office holds weekly meetings with law enforcement agencies to track and arrest dangerous criminals, whether they are illegal migrants or U.S. citizens with outstanding warrants.
This collaboration shows Florida’s commitment to stricter immigration enforcement. While supporters believe it helps keep communities safe, critics worry about its effect on trust between migrants and law enforcement. As immigration policies remain a major national issue, more local agencies may follow Florida’s lead in working closely with federal authorities.