ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. —Former St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson, who served a year as the county’s top law enforcement officer before stepping down in January, announced that he is joining the Trump administration as senior counselor to state and local law enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security, TCPalm reported.
Pearson made the announcement on social media on Jan. 23, expressing excitement for the new role and highlighting his commitment to enhancing public safety nationwide.
“Together, we will make a significant impact in the safety and prosperity for all Americans,” Pearson said.
In his new DHS role, Pearson will serve as a liaison between the federal government and state and local law enforcement agencies, with a focus on initiatives related to illegal immigration, according to the report. Current Sheriff Richard Del Toro highlighted the importance of having a former sheriff from Florida in such a role, calling it a potential benefit for future collaborations between federal and local agencies.
“Gov. [Ron] DeSantis has made it very clear … that he expects us to be cooperative with these federal initiatives, and we want to work with them,” Del Toro told TCPalm.
Having in the role a former sheriff from Florida, particularly one from St. Lucie County, would be a “good partnership if, in fact, we have to get involved in any of these type of initiatives moving forward,” said Del Toro.
As DHS prepares to implement Trump’s immigration priorities, including enhanced enforcement and mass deportations, Pearson’s role is expected to place him in the national spotlight, according to the report. A vocal critic of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, Pearson has praised Trump’s approach and expressed enthusiasm for advancing the administration’s “America First” agenda.
