Volusia County Sheriff's Office making changes following President Trump's immigration reform policies | FOX 35 Orlando

Volusia County Sheriff's Office making changes following President Trump's immigration reform policies

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said he has implemented changes within the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office to better provide federal agencies with information on undocumented immigrants arrested for criminal behaviors.

What we know:

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood has implemented changes to strengthen cooperation with federal agencies regarding undocumented immigrants arrested for crimes. Deputies will now ask additional questions about immigration status and report that information to federal authorities.

Chitwood says the policy has already led to the detention of a Jamaican national with drugs who was under investigation. He emphasizes that the focus is on criminals, not undocumented immigrants who are victims or witnesses to crimes.

What they're saying:

According to Sheriff Chitwood, he and his Volusia County deputies are not going after undocumented immigrants. He said they are going after criminals.

"We don't play any role [in federal immigration raids] unless they ask for assistance to transport or do surveillance or whatever it is," Chitwood said. "However, if you're driving drunk, if you're driving without a license, or speeding, if you're dealing in all these other crimes, when I come in contact with you, we are notifying the federal government."

Previously, when Volusia County deputies arrested a person who was found out to be in the country illegally, they would submit the charges and arrest report to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Because of President Trump’s immigration reform policies, from now on, Chitwood said deputies will be asking additional questions.

"What was your port of entry? How long have you been here? How did you get here?" Chitwood explained.

That information will get sent straight to the feds, who then have the authority to deny bond. The change, he said, is already proving successful.

"Last night we locked up a Jamaican national here on a work visa with five kilos of cocaine and 15 pounds of meth. He's also the subject of an investigation from four months prior," Chitwood said. "When we made that that phone call to HSI, Homeland Security automatically went after his visa and put him on a hold. So, he will not make bond."

Chitwood said this new, stronger relationship between county law enforcement and the feds will help to keep dangerous criminals off the streets.

"Just in the past six months, I’ve had Chilean gangs, Venezuelan gangs, Cuban gangs and Colombian gangs come into [Volusia] County," said Chitwood. "Violent crime, drugs, theft, fraud, millions of dollars…. And they get released! They make bond and they walk out the door – multiple passports. Those days are over."

Another point Chitwood wanted to stress: if you are a victim, or a witness, to a crime, and you are in the country illegally, Florida law shields you from being deported – as long as you qualify for the protection. One of those qualifications includes cooperating with law enforcement in helping them investigate the alleged crime.

"I cannot have children and women be victims and say, ‘I can't [report this] because they're going to deport me’… and allow a serial rapist or a serial child abuser [to go free]."

What we don't know:

How these changes will impact the number of undocumented immigrants arrested or deported in Volusia County is unknown. It is also unclear whether this approach will face legal challenges or opposition from advocacy groups.

Big picture view:

The policy shift reflects broader national debates over local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement.

Chitwood insists that targeting criminals, not immigrants, will make communities safer.

The new approach could serve as a model for other counties looking to increase collaboration with federal immigration officials.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

 

ImmigrationPoliticsFloridaFlorida PoliticsDonald J. TrumpVolusia County