Walton County Sheriff Expands Federal Immigration Enforcement Program

The Trump administration expanded the 287(g) program to increase mass deportations by deputizing local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. In Walton County, Florida, Sheriff Michael Adkinson integrated the program into the local Sheriff's Office, allowing certified officers to interrogate suspects and make immigration arrests.

To support these operations, the Walton County Sheriff's Office converted 48 jail beds into a 72-hour hold facility for immigrant detainees. This expansion is funded by federal reimbursements and more than $9 million in grants from the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement.

While Adkinson maintains that the office focuses on criminals and follows legal obligations, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida warns that insufficient training leads to racial profiling. The program has created significant fear among undocumented workers in the Florida Panhandle, which has impacted the local construction industry and discouraged immigrant crime victims from reporting offenses.