Florida attorney general threatens Tampa mayor with removal over immigration policies

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Wednesday saying the state will take action if she does not stop “forcing sanctuary policies” on the Tampa Police Department (TPD).

“TPD’s policies prohibiting its officers from sharing certain information with federal immigration authorities and limiting the immigration enforcement activities in which it participates effectively establishes a sanctuary policy,” Uthmeier wrote in the letter.

Uthmeier took issue with TPD withholding information from federal immigration authorities about victims and witnesses of crimes, specifically concerning their legal status. This policy aims to reassure people who are in the country illegally that they will not face possible detention and deportation for coming forward to report a crime.

“But we want illegal aliens to fear immigration consequences to the extent they are here unlawfully,” Uthmeier wrote.

Protections exist for victims of certain crimes who could face removal from the country if investigated by federal immigration officials, as required by state law. The Department of Homeland Security website, cited in the letter, highlights pathways to temporary legal immigration status for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, as well as over two dozen other crimes.

“This is going to prevent illegal immigrants — yes, they are illegal — but people who do not have a criminal record to have access to benefits that they could have if they are able to report the crime,” said immigration attorney Lisette Sanchez.

TPD also “prohibits officers from engaging in ‘broad-based’ immigration enforcement actions,” which Uthmeier called an “ambiguous restriction on immigration enforcement activities” and said the city “must do better.” He argued the policies “jeopardize the safety of Tampa residents.”

“Given the danger illegals pose to Florida, the Mayor of Tampa and TPD should prioritize the safety of Americans over the comfort of illegal criminal aliens who have no right to be here in the first place,” Uthmeier wrote.

The attorney general ordered the city to reverse the immigration policies by March 31. Uthmeier threatened Castor with removal by the governor if the city does not comply.

During a press conference in June 2025, Castor spoke about immigration enforcement.

“Those immigrant populations become the victims of robberies and they are not comfortable reporting that. They are not comfortable reporting the fraud because they do not trust law enforcement and that is the fundamental reason that local law enforcement should not be engaged in immigration enforcement,” said Castor. “If we are looking for individuals who are committing crime in our communities, and everyone can agree that we do not want criminals in our communities, in our neighborhoods, but if you go looking for immigrants as the cause of that crime, that is a fool’s path because immigrants are coming to this country by and large to realize the American dream and everyone in this room has descended from immigrants.”

In the letter, Uthmeier said there are procedures in place to protect the integrity of a case when a victim or witness is in the United States unlawfully. The letter went on to say how immigration authorities must be alerted to individuals in the country illegally and perform investigations of their status irrespective of their role in a case.

“It is a great concern because those people that are right now the victims of crimes, they’re not going to be able to go forward and to go and create … these complaints and maybe to report the crime,” said Sanchez. “And, you know, in my opinion, there are so many crimes that not necessarily are committed by immigrants. Those immigrants can be victims or they can be witnesses of crimes committed by citizens of this country.”

Castor issued the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:

“In light of the Attorney General’s letter today, the City of Tampa will review the concerns raised and evaluate our policies and procedures to ensure that we use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law. “Tampa is one of the safest cities of our size in the nation because we built trust with our community through collaboration. The Tampa Police Department signed the 287(g) and developed its immigration enforcement policy in consultation with partner agencies and law enforcement associations to ensure all immigration-related actions are carried out according to state and federal law.”

“In light of the Attorney General’s letter today, the City of Tampa will review the concerns raised and evaluate our policies and procedures to ensure that we use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.

“Tampa is one of the safest cities of our size in the nation because we built trust with our community through collaboration. The Tampa Police Department signed the 287(g) and developed its immigration enforcement policy in consultation with partner agencies and law enforcement associations to ensure all immigration-related actions are carried out according to state and federal law.”

Castor would not be the first Hillsborough County official removed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. In 2022, State Attorney Andrew Warren was ousted from his position over what DeSantis described as leniency and refusal to enforce certain laws.

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