Local police departments and sheriff’s offices across the Florida Panhandle are set to receive a significant financial boost following an announcement in Panama City on Monday. Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia confirmed that over $2 million in state funding has been earmarked for several agencies to bolster immigration enforcement efforts within their jurisdictions.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is slated to receive the largest portion of the current rollout, totaling $685,956, followed closely by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office with $648,805.
Other recipients include the sheriff’s offices in Washington, Holmes, and Calhoun counties, as well as the Marianna Police Department and the City of Blountstown.
An additional $552,292 for Washington County is also expected to go before the State Board of Immigration Enforcement for final approval during the Florida Cabinet meeting scheduled for February 24.
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These funds are distributed through the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, which provides reimbursements to local agencies that have applied for assistance. Many of these departments operate under 287(g) agreements, a federal program that allows local officers to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to perform specific functions related to immigration law.
During the announcement, CFO Ingoglia linked the necessity of the funding to federal border policies, stating that the resources are vital for officers to maintain community safety.
He was joined by several local leaders, including Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford and Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr., who expressed that the grants would help equip deputies with the tools needed to manage the impacts of illegal immigration at the local level.
The State Board of Immigration Enforcement consists of Florida’s top executive leaders, including Governor Ron DeSantis, CFO Ingoglia, Attorney General James Uthmeier, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. The board’s primary role is to oversee the allocation of state resources toward these multi-agency enforcement partnerships.
The move reflects a continued state-level focus on immigration as a matter of public safety. While the funding is specifically designated for reimbursement of costs associated with these enforcement tasks, local officials noted the money would also assist in broader efforts to protect residents and support the daily operations of deputies on the ground.
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