Florida Police Agencies Accepted Immigration Enforcement Grants
Tampa and Plant City received $700,000 in state funds but reported zero arrests under federal immigration authority.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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On October 28, 2025, the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement awarded $700,000 to two Hillsborough County police departments. Despite the funding, neither the Tampa Police Department nor the Plant City Police Department reported making any arrests on behalf of federal immigration officials.
Why it matters
The grants were intended to support local agencies in conducting arrests on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The lack of federal immigration arrests raises questions about the utilization of these state funds for specialized enforcement programs.
Tampa police recorded 32 suspected unauthorized alien encounters and Plant City recorded 24, though none resulted in federal immigration arrests. These figures represent the documented interactions during the grant-funded period.
The players
Tampa Police Department
This local law enforcement agency received $430,000 in state funding for immigration enforcement efforts.
Plant City Police Department
This law enforcement agency received $270,000 in state funds and invested in AI-driven database software.
Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement
This state government entity is responsible for awarding immigration enforcement grants to participating local agencies.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
This federal agency is the primary authority for immigration enforcement in the United States.
The details
The Tampa Police Department received $430,000 for bonuses and overtime, while the Plant City Police Department used its $270,000 grant to purchase Peregrine AI software, a tool that aggregates multiple police databases. Agencies utilize these funds to maintain training for the 287(g) program, which allows officers to enforce federal immigration law.
Timeline
October 28, 2025: The Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement approved the grants.
September 17, 2026: The City Council discussed the link between Peregrine software and ICE.
October 15, 2026: The Tampa City Council is set to consider a grant for the software.
Legal Context
The use of these grants aligns with the broader adoption of the 287(g) program in various jurisdictions. The funding reflects an increasing effort to integrate local police resources with federal immigration enforcement priorities.
Residents of Tampa and Plant City may see increased utilization of advanced database software like Peregrine in police operations. The shift in how local agencies manage federal immigration programs can impact departmental resource allocation and local police priorities.
The takeaway
The case highlights the gap between state-funded enforcement goals and actual federal immigration arrest outcomes in Florida. Communities should continue to monitor how specialized software and grants alter local policing practices.
What happens next
The Tampa City Council will meet on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to vote on whether to accept a grant specifically for the Peregrine software.
Further reading
For more information on current police initiatives, visit Law Enforcement.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WMNF 88.5 FM.
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