State officials landed in Daytona Beach on Wednesday to hand over more than $1.7 million in taxpayer funds to several law enforcement agencies across Volusia and Flagler counties.
The money, distributed by Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, is specifically earmarked to help local police and sheriff’s deputies assist federal authorities with immigration enforcement.
The funding comes through the State Board of Immigration, a body that includes Governor Ron DeSantis and other top state leaders. It functions as a reimbursement program for departments participating in the 287(g) initiative—a federal partnership that allows local officers to act as an extension of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office walked away with the largest slice of the pie, receiving over $725,000. Other significant amounts went to Volusia County Corrections and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, while smaller departments like Holly Hill and Daytona Beach Shores also received checks to cover their costs.
During the announcement, Ingoglia framed the move as a direct response to what he described as a crisis caused by federal border policies.
He was joined by local law enforcement leaders, including Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly, who argued that the extra cash is necessary to keep “criminal illegal aliens” out of their communities and to ensure their deputies have the tools to back up federal agents.
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While the local chiefs and sheriffs praised the financial support as a win for public safety, the program remains part of a broader, politically charged effort by Florida leadership to take a more aggressive stance on immigration within state lines.
The money will largely be used to cover the administrative and operational costs police rack up when they process undocumented individuals through local jails.
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