U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) sent a letter of support to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding a federal grant application submitted by the North Port Police Department.
The agency is seeking funding through the Department of Justice’s Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (BIDEN) Program to establish a “drone as a first responder” initiative. The system aims to give police real-time aerial footage within seconds of receiving an emergency call.
In his letter, Steube pointed to regional population shifts as a primary factor driving the need for additional technology.
“The Sunshine State has welcomed new residents at a record rate, straining our local public safety infrastructure and creating unique operational challenges,” Steube said. “This aerial technology will help North Port officers track illegal activity along regional transit corridors, respond to calls with greater situational awareness, and deploy personnel more safely and efficiently.”
The federal BIDEN Program was created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It provides federal grant dollars to state and local police departments for law enforcement efforts including locating and apprehending criminal illegal aliens, investigating drug and human trafficking, managing court operations, funding temporary detention facilities, and handling related transportation and logistics. Grant recipients can allocate funds toward hiring personnel or acquiring equipment and technology.
Eligibility for the grant program requires law enforcement agencies to participate in the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program or commit to enrolling in it. The North Port Police Department is currently enrolled in 287(g).
The support letter follows previous action by Steube in April 2025, when he sent letters to police chiefs and sheriffs throughout his congressional district urging them to join the 287(g) program. In that communication, Steube requested that local agencies verify their enrollment status or provide detailed explanations if they chose not to participate, alongside information on any federal grant opportunities they were pursuing.
READ: Florida AG Subpoenas Fauci In Probe Over Pandemic Profits And Power
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
