Immigration

Florida Sheriffs Say Mass Deportations Go Too Far, Call for Path to Citizenship

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and other Florida law enforcement leaders say they'd rather be focusing on immigrants who are committing crimes.

C.J. Ciaramella | 3.18.2026 1:15 PM

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(Credit: Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd)

A council of Florida law enforcement leaders appointed to advise on the state's hardline immigration policies is instead calling for a pathway for citizenship for certain immigrants who entered the country illegally.

At a quarterly meeting Monday of the Florida Immigration Enforcement Council, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that, while he had no problem working with federal authorities to deport illegal immigrants with criminal records, he was concerned about stories from constituents about longtime residents who'd been brought to the U.S. illegally as children, and who had no other criminal record but were detained while checking in at Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices.

"While Congress sits on their hands and does nothing about this, we are on the ground floor with this day in and day out, looking in the eyes of these folks that, yes, came here inappropriately," Judd, who chairs the council, said at Monday's meeting. "But some came here inappropriately only to do better for themselves and their family."

The council—four sheriffs and four police chiefs—was created by the Florida Legislature to advise the State Board of Immigration, a panel of the governor and state cabinet. As such, the comments at Monday's meeting generated headlines such as "Sheriffs rebel against Donald Trump's, Gov. DeSantis' mass deportation efforts."

Judd held a press conference on Tuesday........

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