Reimbursement checks from Washington arrive in Florida

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(The Center Square) – Checks from Washington reimbursing Florida law enforcement agencies were handed out Tuesday amid praise from the state's chief financial officer.

“On behalf of the whole state of Florida, we are grateful for all the work you guys do in our communities keeping us safe,” CFO Blaise Ingoglia said at a ceremony in St. Augustine.

He handed St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick a check for more than $1 million as the federal government’s reimbursement for the department’s work on immigration enforcement. The funding is part of the federal government’s 287G program that authorizes local police officers to enforced federal immigration laws.

“I think we got clear, concise information all the way from the President of the United States to the governor to all the cabinet members and our lieutenant governor exactly what the state of Florida is going to do,” the sheriff said. “We are going to lead from the front, we are going to lead by example and we are going to set the tone for the rest of the United States.”

St. Johns County will soon have 104 designated immigration officers, Hardwick said.

Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said she has been cooperating with federal authorities on immigration for years.

“But we always felt like we were doing it on our own because there was not support, there was not funding to help us assist,” she said. “But we know that more often than not, the illegal aliens that are committing crimes in communities are committing crimes against other immigrants who are here trying to do the right thing.”

She said she is “relieved” both the federal and state government are finally supporting local law enforcement.

“It’s about protecting communities,” the sheriff said. “Florida has discovered the recipe for law enforcement success.”