“Biting the hand that’s feeding you”: Sheriff furious after Kristi Noem ‘stabs Florida law enforcement in the back’
Florida – Sheriff Grady Judd from Florida is very angry with federal immigration authorities after finding out that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been sending recruitment emails directly to his deputies. This comes despite the fact that local law enforcement and the federal agency have worked together for a long time.
Judd hosted a high-profile gathering of more than 20 law enforcement leaders from across Florida earlier this year. He promised to fully assist the Trump administration’s efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. At the gathering in February, sheriffs stressed how important it is for them to help ICE enforce immigration laws, saying that the agency doesn’t have enough resources to find more than a million people who are supposed to be removed.
The Polk County Sheriff says he feels blindsided right now. His anger comes from a mass email written by Madison D. Sheahan, the deputy director of ICE, offering Polk County cops big incentives to leave their jobs and join the federal agency. The recruitment package includes signing bonuses of up to $50,000 and the chance to pay off up to $60,000 in student loan debt, as long as the officers agree to serve for at least five years.
“We’re their force multipliers, and this is the thanks we get for helping them do their job?” Judd said recently in an interview. “I mean, that’s biting the hand that’s feeding you. And I am angry!” he added.
The email campaign featured a link to a government website topped with an image of Uncle Sam and the bold message: “AMERICA NEEDS YOU.” For Judd, it felt like a betrayal—especially since ICE had obtained internal contact data for deputies as part of a credentialing process required by the federal government itself.
Judd didn’t hold back in his criticism of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees ICE.
“Kristi Noem needs to get on her big girl pants and do what’s right. She needs to make sure that there’s an apology,” he said.
There hasn’t been an apology yet. A high-ranking official from the DHS told The Ledger that the campaign is necessary because ICE needs to hire experienced professionals, especially those who have already been trained through partnerships like the 287(g) program, to help get dangerous offenders out of the U.S. The agency also said that President Trump’s legislative plan will give ICE more than $500 million in extra money, which will help the agency work with local governments.
Scott Wilder, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, said that Judd is not angry with ICE for needing to recruit people; he is angry with how they went about it. Wilder explained to The Ledger that they used their email data that the office provided for credentialing purposes, emphasizing that Judd supports ICE’s mission but sees the recruitment method as overstepping.
The 287(g) program lets local law enforcement help with immigration enforcement, and the Sheriff’s Office has had a good connection with ICE for a long time through this program. All Florida law enforcement agencies must now take part in the project, according to state law.
While Judd fights what he thinks is federal overreach, his department is also trying to hire new people. PCSO is providing a $20,000 incentive to experienced police officers, as well as help with moving and a starting salary of around $63,000. Currently, the department has 68 openings, but with 55 recruits in the law enforcement academy, the net vacancy stands at 13.
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For Judd, the experience is a clear warning that even among friends, trust may be broken and lines can be crossed.
