The 287(g) program is a voluntary federal partnership that deputizes local law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement activities.

Under Florida Law, participation in the 287(g) program is only mandatory for county sheriffs who manage jails. Because no individual cities in Tampa Bay operate their own correctional facilities, every municipal 287(g) agreement—including those in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, and Gulfport—is 100% voluntary and can be voided at the city’s discretion. 

Furthermore, under Florida Statute 166.0495, our cities frequently share law enforcement services across boundaries. This means a voluntary 287(g) agreement in one city doesn't stay behind its borders; it effectively "exports" federal immigration enforcement into neighboring communities, making the termination of these agreements a matter of shared regional safety.

A single voluntary agreement threatens the safety and civil liberties of residents across the entire Tampa Bay area. We are calling for a coordinated, regional withdrawal to ensure that our shared law enforcement services are used to protect all residents, regardless of which city they happen to be in.