Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia awarded more than $8.5 million to four Florida law enforcement agencies to support local immigration enforcement efforts, his office announced Thursday.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office received the largest share of the funding at $8.25 million. The Arcadia Police Department was awarded $377,185, while the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office received $85,067 and the Naples Police Department received $74,326.
The money was distributed through the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, which reimburses local law enforcement agencies for costs associated with immigration enforcement activities. The board also provides bonuses to officers trained under federal 287(g) agreements.
Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to authorize trained state and local officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement duties.
Ingoglia said the funding would help local agencies strengthen public safety efforts and support officers working to apprehend people accused of crimes.
Ingoglia serves on the State Board of Immigration Enforcement alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.