Florida
DHS Chief Urges State Cooperation on Criminal Immigration Detainers as Florida Law Enforcement Prioritizes Public Safety
OKLAHOMA CITY — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin this weekend implored states and cities to cooperate with federal immigration officials, which he said would lead to safer and lower-profile arrests and deportations. Speaking to a group of Democratic and…
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Key points
- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin urged state governors to honor ICE detainers for non-citizens with criminal convictions.
- Federal officials stressed that local jail cooperation prevents higher-risk public arrests and protects community safety.
- ICE recorded over 43,000 arrests in June as federal authorities prioritize targeted enforcement against criminal offenders.
OKLAHOMA CITY NewsWK — According to a report first published by Stateline, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin urged state governors this weekend to strengthen cooperation with federal immigration authorities, emphasizing that local jail detainers ensure safer operations for both law enforcement officers and the public.
Speaking at the National Governors Association summer meeting in Oklahoma City, Mullin called on state and local officials to assist federal agents by honoring detainer requests for individuals without legal citizenship status who have been convicted of crimes.
Mullin stressed that current federal efforts are focused squarely on criminal offenders rather than broad public enforcement operations.
“We’re not doing job-site raids. We’re not going to Home Depot and raiding the parking lot. These are individuals that have already been convicted of a crime,” Mullin said, as reported by Stateline.
Public Safety and Local Cooperation
The Homeland Security chief warned that non-cooperative “sanctuary” policies in certain states and cities force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to make apprehensions in public spaces after dangerous individuals are released from local custody.
“We’re going to arrest them, and then we’re going to arrest them in a public space, which could cause more problems and put our officers at risk, the public at risk, and the person we’re serving the detainer at risk,” Mullin explained.
For residents across Northwest Florida, local law enforcement agencies—including the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Rosa County Sheriff‘s Office—already maintain strong coordination with federal detainers in compliance with Florida state law prohibiting sanctuary jurisdictions. Mullin pointed to similar state-level partnerships in Oklahoma, where 76 of 77 counties assist federal authorities before releasing incarcerated individuals with criminal convictions.
Enforcement Data and Rule of Law
Federal data highlights a substantial increase in targeted enforcement activity. ICE reported more than 43,000 arrests in June, with daily detentions averaging 1,593 in early July as federal agencies focus on detaining non-citizens with prior criminal convictions.
Addressing federal security grants that support state cybersecurity, anti-terrorism, and law enforcement training, Mullin affirmed that federal partnerships depend on mutual cooperation. While noting that legal pathways to citizenship remain robust—with nearly 900,000 individuals naturalized over the past year—Mullin reiterated that rule of law must be upheld, emphasizing zero tolerance for criminal convictions or deliberate evasion of legal immigration processes.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Based on reporting by Kevin Hardy originally published by Stateline. Read the original story.
