Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a formal demand to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Wednesday, ordering the immediate reversal of city police policies that he claims violate state bans on sanctuary jurisdictions. In a letter dated March 11, 2026, Uthmeier warned that failure to comply by the end of the month could result in civil penalties or the Mayor’s removal from office by the Governor.
The dispute centers on how the Tampa Police Department (TPD) handles its 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Uthmeier alleges that TPD has enacted internal rules that “delimit the specific information TPD may share with ICE and restrict the immigration enforcement activities in which the Department may participate.”
According to the Attorney General, these restrictions conflict with Section 908.103 of the Florida Statutes, which prohibits local governments from adopting procedures that impede cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Uthmeier specifically pointed to TPD policies that prevent officers from investigating the immigration status of crime victims or witnesses.
“TPD ostensibly supports these policies because they do not want illegal aliens to be concerned with immigration consequences by cooperating with law enforcement,” Uthmeier wrote. “But we want illegal aliens to fear immigration consequences to the extent they are here unlawfully.”
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The Attorney General’s letter also criticized TPD’s prohibition on “broad-based” immigration enforcement actions, calling the term an “ambiguous restriction” that fails the state’s “best efforts” legal standard for supporting federal law. To illustrate the necessity of strict enforcement, Uthmeier cited recent arrests in Hillsborough County and a September operation in Central Florida that resulted in the apprehension of 400 “criminal aliens” facing various felony charges.
“The law in Florida is clear: sanctuary policies are prohibited,” the letter stated. “Your office must direct the immediate reversal of these unlawful policies no later than March 31, 2026.”
In a statement released shortly after receiving the letter, Mayor Jane Castor defended the city’s record but committed to a formal review of the police department’s current protocols.
“In light of the Attorney General’s letter today, the City of Tampa will review the concerns raised and evaluate our policies and procedures to ensure that we use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law,” Castor said.
The Mayor emphasized that Tampa remains one of the safest cities of its size due to the “trust” built between law enforcement and the community. She noted that the current TPD immigration policy was developed in consultation with partner agencies to ensure compliance with both state and federal statutes.
Under the Florida Constitution and Section 908.107, the Governor has the authority to remove local officials who fail to enjoin or repeal prohibited sanctuary policies. The Attorney General’s office has indicated it will monitor Tampa’s policy adjustments through the March 31 deadline.
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