Melissa Donovan
Several leading Florida universities are moving to align their campus police departments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through a controversial federal partnership encouraged by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Through the 287(g) agreement — a federal program that permits local law enforcement to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties — university police officers would be trained and authorized to assist in identifying and detaining individuals suspected of violating federal immigration laws.
Campus Police to Take on Immigration Enforcement Roles
The University of Florida (UF), University of Central Florida (UCF), University of South Florida (USF), and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) have either entered into or are in the process of entering into agreements with ICE under the 287(g) framework. This arrangement allows campus police to collaborate with federal immigration officials, potentially accelerating the detention and removal of individuals flagged by immigration authorities.
While the governor’s directive stops short of directly naming campus law enforcement, it reinforces the expectation that all state-affiliated agencies — including those operating on public university campuses — comply with immigration enforcement initiatives.
Training Underway, But Enforcement Not Yet Active
The 287(g) program does not grant immediate enforcement authority. Officers must first complete ICE training and obtain federal certification before they can carry out immigration-related duties. Most participating university departments are still awaiting final approval, and as of now, no immigration-related arrests have been made on any of the campuses involved.
Governor DeSantis has also proposed legislation that would impose penalties on agencies that refuse to participate in the program, signaling potential consequences for non-compliance.
Increased Pressure on International Students Nationwide
This development comes amid broader federal efforts to monitor and deport international students more aggressively. Reports have emerged of student visas being revoked for relatively minor infractions, including traffic violations. At the same time, universities across the country are being encouraged to check immigration databases to verify students’ legal status regularly.
One high-profile case drawing national attention involves Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University, who faces deportation despite active academic enrollment and advocacy on campus. The exact number of visa revocations remains unclear, as the U.S. State Department has not released current figures.
What This Means for Florida’s Campuses
The move to bring campus police into federal immigration enforcement represents a significant shift in the role of university law enforcement. Critics argue it could create an atmosphere of fear for international and undocumented students, while supporters view it as a step toward stronger immigration control.
As the partnerships move forward, questions remain about how this integration of federal and campus law enforcement will impact student safety, civil liberties, and the broader educational environment at Florida’s public universities.
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