TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis created Florida’s Immigration Enforcement Council and has begun appointing law enforcement officials to serve as members, First Coast News reported.
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez announced Monday that Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell will serve on the eight-member council, which will assist the State Board of Immigration Enforcement in enforcing federal immigration laws, according to the report.
“Sheriff Waters and Sheriff Prummell are dedicated law enforcement leaders who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to public safety,” Perez said in a statement. “Their extensive experience and leadership will be invaluable as Florida continues to take strong, decisive action to enforce immigration laws and protect our citizens.”
The council will ultimately include four sheriffs — two appointed by the Senate president and two by the House speaker—along with four police chiefs selected by DeSantis, the commissioner of agriculture, the chief financial officer and the attorney general. The council’s responsibilities include advising on local law enforcement efforts, recommending funding for agencies, coordinating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on training and strategies and exploring ways to increase bed space in ICE detention facilities, according to the report.
The council was formed as part of a broader immigration law package signed by DeSantis last week, which includes a mandate for the death penalty in capital cases involving undocumented immigrants.
