The chair of Florida’s Immigration Enforcement Council says he plans to draft a letter to President Donald Trump and top national Republicans asking for clearer guidelines on deporting undocumented immigrants.
The move comes amid concerns that immigration enforcement efforts should be more narrowly focused.
Polk County Sherriff Grady Judd said during a virtual meeting of the council Monday he thinks immigration enforcement should be focused on undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. He has concerns that some people who are working jobs and supporting their families have been deported amid national immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration.
“To make sure that the top priority is to remove these folks that are violating the law, these people who've been through the immigration system, these people who have avoided the immigration system and snuck into the United States, but there are those here that are working hard. They have their kids in college or in school. They're going to church on Sunday. They're not violating the law, and they're they're in a they are living the American dream and are being very productive and and doing good in this country,” he said.
Judd said he believe that undocumented immigrants not convicted of crimes should have to pay civil fines and learn English. He also thinks they should not be eligible for social programs like food stamps or Medicaid.
This messaging shift comes amid changes in national immigration enforcement staffing and larger conversations in Republican circles about narrowing messaging surrounding immigration enforcement to focus on criminals.