Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Wednesday issued a formal demand to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, ordering the immediate reversal of Tampa Police Department policies he says violate state law by constituting prohibited “sanctuary” practices in immigration enforcement.
In a letter dated March 11, 2026, Uthmeier accused TPD of enacting guidelines that restrict officers from sharing certain information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including the immigration status of crime victims or witnesses, and limit participation in federal immigration operations under the department’s 287(g) agreement.
Uthmeier cited Florida Statutes § 908.103, which bans any local policy that “prohibits or impedes” cooperation with federal immigration authorities in compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373. He also referenced § 908.104(1), requiring jurisdictions to use “best efforts” to support federal immigration enforcement.
“Mayor Castor is forcing sanctuary policies on the Tampa Police Department, which violates Florida law,” Uthmeier posted on X. “These policies must be reversed immediately, or there will be consequences.”
The attorney general rejected arguments that such restrictions encourage undocumented immigrants to cooperate with local police without deportation fears, stating: “We want illegal aliens to fear immigration consequences to the extent they are here unlawfully.” He argued the policies “positively contribute to the mass influx of illegal aliens that Florida has experienced” and “jeopardize the safety of Tampa residents.”
Uthmeier demanded Castor direct the reversal of the policies no later than March 31, 2026, warning that failure to comply could trigger civil penalties and invocation of the governor’s constitutional authority to remove her from office.
The dispute stems from TPD’s implementation of its 287(g) Task Force Model agreement with ICE, which delegates certain immigration enforcement functions to trained local officers.
In a late Wednesday statement, Castor’s office said the city “will review the concerns raised and evaluate our policies and procedures” to ensure compliance with state requirements for supporting federal immigration enforcement.
If unresolved, the matter could escalate to enforcement actions by the state.
