The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has fundamentally shifted its operational scope in 2025, moving beyond traditional traffic enforcement to become a significant arm of federal immigration control.
According to a year-end report released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), the agency has finalized an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The deal authorizes more than 1,800 state troopers to execute federal immigration enforcement functions.
This expansion of state police power is the headline of a year marked by aggressive policy shifts under Executive Director Dave Kerner.
“We are protecting families, preserving law and order, and upholding the values that make Florida strong,” Kerner said, crediting the changes to the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis.
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Immigration and Border Focus
The department reports that its intensified focus on immigration resulted in the apprehension of over 7,000 undocumented individuals this year. Officials noted that of those detained, approximately 1,240 had prior criminal records, ranging from narcotics trafficking to weapons smuggling.
To support these operations, the state created a dedicated “Immigration Enforcement Section” and secured funding from the Department of Homeland Security for new equipment. Troopers were also deployed to the Florida Keys and the Treasure Coast under “Operation Vigilant Sentry” to intercept maritime landings.
Salaries and Street Crime
While federal enforcement took center stage, the agency also moved to shore up its ranks. Amidst a nationwide struggle to recruit police, Florida implemented a 10% pay raise for new recruits and a 15% hike for veterans with at least five years of service.
On the ground, FHP coordinated with local police to crack down on “street takeovers” in metropolitan areas and provided heavy reinforcement during Spring Break in Miami and Panama City. The agency claims these proactive measures contributed to a four-year downward trend in traffic fatalities across the state.
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The “Desk Trooper” and Tech Upgrades
Drivers involved in minor accidents may have noticed a change in how the state responds to calls. In 2025, FLHSMV rolled out the “Desk Trooper” program. This initiative allows officers to investigate minor crashes remotely by accessing the driver’s cell phone camera with permission, a move designed to reduce the hours motorists often wait on the shoulder for an officer to arrive.
Administratively, the department overhauled its National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. The new platform is designed to catch “title washing”—a fraud scheme used to hide a vehicle’s history of damage or theft—and improve data sharing with other states.
The department also continued transitioning driver license services in Miami-Dade County, moving operations from state control to county-run Tax Collector offices.
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