Sheriffs turn on MAGA gov as ICE ​crackdown spirals out of control: 'We're hurting people'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

March 27, 2026 2:31PM ET


Ron DeSantis's grip on power is slipping as he faces his final months as Florida governor, and now his own law enforcement allies are openly rebelling against his aggressive immigration enforcement machine. According to the New York Times, Florida sheriffs and police chiefs — once reliable partners in DeSantis's immigration crusade — are becoming increasingly vocal critics of the embattled governor, whose national political career has been overshadowed by Donald Trump.

A year ago, DeSantis pledged to make Florida the nation's toughest state on immigration enforcement. He largely succeeded: Florida recorded more immigration arrests last year than any state except Texas. But the enforcement apparatus he hastily constructed to support Trump's federal crackdown is now visibly cracking under the strain. Overcrowded jails, mounting costs, and growing concerns about aggressive tactics have prompted even Republican law enforcement officials to question the operation's scope — especially in an election year.

At a recent meeting of the State Immigration Enforcement Council, Republican sheriffs expressed serious concerns about unauthorized immigrants with no criminal records being detained and deported."There are those here that are working hard," said Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, the council's chairman. "They have kids in college or in school. They're going to church on Sunday. They're not violating the law, and they're living the American dream."

The remarks signaled a significant shift among a small but influential group of Florida Republicans responsible for executing Trump and DeSantis's immigration policies."It's too wide a net," said Chief Ciro M. Dominguez of the Naples Police Department during the March 16 meeting. "And we're hurting people who are not the target of this."

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/desantis-immigrants/

[Aristus]

1. Translation: "The people who voted for me employ undocumented workers, and they are losing money because of the

crackdown".

[spudspud]

11. BINGO!! /nt

[delisen]

2. Without the Resistance, they would remain supporters.

They coalesced around power, even though it was evil.

DeSantis is losing power, the resistance is forming a power center. It is giving some of the followers an escape hatch.

Authoritarians will always be with us, but I think it is important that their power be limited.

[paleotn]

3. Yes, they are the target of this. They were ALWAYS the target of this.

This isn't about criminals. This is about racism and fascism. It's nationalist bullshit. Anyone who didn't see this coming and is now surprised was either naive or a damn fool.

[Martin Eden]

12. It's the Great Replacement Theory

Stephen Miller and his ilk are on a crusade of ethnic cleansing, to reduce the demographic trend in which whites would no longer be the majority population.

It's not about crime; it's about people of color taking root in our communitities and living the American dream. For racist fearmongers, that is a nightmare.

They utterly reject the IDEA of America -- that all human beings are created equal; that being an American isn't about race or creed, but about embracing Constititional rule of law including the Bill of Rights.

The true strength of America and the best hope of all mankind are the highest ideals of our nation's founding, bending the long arc of the moral universe towards justice for all people.

But these White Nationalists who call themselves "Christian" cling to the old tribal hostilities, bigotry, and fear which have plagued human history with war and unspeakable cruelty.

Are they the last vestige of the dark side of humaity, or do they reveal the core of who we really are?

As sentient beings with the capacity to learn and develop a moral compass, this is a matter of choice. It is also a matter of having the courage and determination to work together in building a better future in which the Stephen Millers and Donald Trumps will no longer hold sway.

Today, millions of Americans will take to the streets to demonstrate those highest ideals and our determination to build that better future.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. This is what you wanted

And now after seeing how evil what you wanted was, you are trying to evade responsibility for what you are doing by claiming you didn’t want this.

Jail beckons and you know it.

[Cha]

5. Ya Think! Grateful some Rs are waking UP

to What Has Been Going On Here.

Now Please Do Something to Make It Go Away.

TY BRDS.

[cstanleytech]

7. The only waking up they are experiencing is the fear that it's about to bite them otherwise they would do it again.

[cstanleytech]

6. They are probably worried about the backlash rather than the hurt it's caused.

[Martin68]

8. Local law enforcement understands the role in migrants have been playing in the community's life for decades.

They're not all racist.

[FakeNoose]

9. County sheriffs don't work for the legislators or for the county executives

I can certainly see their point, even though I don't live in Florida. The sheriffs may vote R, but they also see the other side of the coin. They know how these R policies are hurting good people who don't deserve it. DeSantis is almost done, he's term limited. We can only hope that someone better might be ready to step in and make some real changes in Florida.

Why is DeSantis so afraid of immigrants anyway? The millionaires who retire and move to Florida aren't going to cut their own grass or clean their own houses. There's a need for people who are willing to work and serve the wealthy class, and many immigrants hove shown that they are willing to do that.

[NoMoreRepugs]

10. Sheriffs see Dems winning elections in Rethug counties - it's about

their reelection chances, nothing to do with empathy or opposing DeSantis IMO.