ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Amid the nation’s immigration crackdown, local law enforcement agencies across the country have increased their efforts to locate individuals living here illegally.
In St. Johns County, Sheriff Rob Hardwick has made it clear that combating illegal immigration is a priority for his department.
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During a recent News4JAX ride-along with deputies, it was revealed how basic traffic stops have become a part of their enforcement strategy.
Traffic stops as a tool for enforcement
St. Johns County Sgt. Bobby Kukar explained the approach taken during traffic enforcement.
“When we’re driving down the interstate, if we’re doing an interdiction pattern, we’ll generally ride the left lane or the right lane, just depending on what we’re doing,” Kukar noted.
While on the road recently, Kukar observed a driver who seemed to be speeding.
“He’s probably going about 85 or 86. Once he realized we were a police car, he laid off the wheel,” he said.
Kukar let him go.
“Yeah, it’s nothing crazy or reckless,” he added. “He’s just in a hurry to get where he’s going.”
Sgt. Kukar is part of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office interdiction unit, which operates under Operation Stonegarden— a program by the Department of Homeland Security that enhances cooperation between federal and local agencies to secure borders.
“We’re not focused on anything but keeping our interstate safe,” Kukar stated. However, through these efforts, they often find and arrest individuals who are in the country illegally.
Detaining individuals during traffic stops
The deputies later encountered a situation where a driver was already detained. They arrived at a traffic stop involving a U.S. Border Patrol agent and a deputy. A yellow Mustang was being towed, and the driver was being detained by Homeland Security officers.
The deputy who pulled him over said he was holding up traffic and didn’t have a driver’s license or any identification to show he was allowed to drive a rental car — just a passport.
“They ran the information, and it came back that he has a deportation order,” Kukar explained. “In lieu of charges, he’s just going to go with Border Patrol, who will process him and turn him over to ICE.”
Sheriff Hardwick provided insight into the crackdown on illegal immigration in St. Johns County and what his deputies are doing in the community.
The sheriff talked about a program now expanded under President Donald Trump, 287 (g), which allows local law enforcement to assist in immigration enforcement, something the sheriff says they have been doing for several years but are able to put more deputies on now.
In terms of identifying who is living here illegally, he says state and federal partners have lists.
“There’s kind of an amber list or an orange list, and then there’s our green list. The red list includes highly violent felons who are also wanted for deportation,” Hardwick explained.
He mentioned that since President Trump’s inauguration in January, his department has identified 171 individuals who were detained or arrested for committing crimes without proof of citizenship. In some cases, Customs and Border Protection agents take individuals into custody on the spot.
Referencing one of those situations he said, “CBP took four from us, gone from this side of the road to Jacksonville,” Hardwick said.
He emphasized that they are not profiling individuals or targeting specific job sites for arrests, although the federal government has occasionally requested assistance on specific cases.
Information was requested on similar enforcement efforts across Northeast Florida. In Clay County, 78 people were arrested after committing crimes and found to be living here illegally.
Nassau County reported essentially the same situation, with 12 individuals arrested after committing crimes. Baker County reported no arrests of non-U.S. citizens, but noted there could be instances in the future where deputies determine someone is not a U.S. citizen during an encounter.
In Putnam County, officials stated they only make arrests based on state statutes and do not track in their system if someone is a citizen or not.
In Jacksonville, the sheriff’s office arrested 151 individuals without legal status between January 20 and April 4.
Legal perspectives on immigration enforcement
“It is harsh that they’re doing that. But currently in Florida, many counties have officers deputized as ICE officers,” said immigration attorney Michelle Fanger.
When asked what individuals should do if they are detained, Fanger said, “The most important thing is to remain calm. If you are being detained and asked questions, provide your name. If asked about your status, do not lie. You have the right to say you want to speak to an attorney.”
Fanger also suggested carrying documentation, such as a lease agreement, to show proof of residency, as well as the contact information of an attorney.
Sheriff Hardwick’s goals for enforcement
Sheriff Hardwick said the overall goal is a safer community.
“The goal is to hold everyone accountable for their actions, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, sexual orientation, or age,” Hardwick stated. “We’re professionally aggressive. If you have committed a crime, we’re going to find you, whether you’re here legally or illegally.”
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