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Broward Sheriff Tony backs down on immigration stance after Florida AG threatens his job

immigration
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, right, and Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony (before he awarded himself a fifth collar star.)

UPDATE: June 10 11:30 a.m. – Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on X: “Thank you, Sheriff Tony, for reversing course and committing to work with the state and ICE to enforce our immigration laws. My office will continue monitoring localities across the state to ensure maximum enforcement.”

 By Dan Christensen, FloridaBulldog.org

Faced with what amounted to an ultimatum from Tallahassee that he assist ICE and enforce federal immigration law, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony appeared to back down late Monday from his earlier public vow not to cooperate.

At a June 3 county commission budget workshop Tony was asked about immigration.

“We have other priorities in this community that I’m focused on, and immigration is not one of them,” said Tony, whose remarks were later broadcast by WPLG-Channel 10. “We’re busting as many guys as we can. But what I refuse to do is take this notion that we need to be knocking on doors, or arresting children, or going into daycare centers or restaurants and taking and snatching people off these streets. It’s not within our purview, it’s not within our responsibility, and I won’t participate in it.”

Monday morning Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier fired off a letter to Tony asking him to clarify his “problematic remarks” and cautioned that if he did not Tony could face “removal from office by the Governor.” Uthmeier copied his letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who first appointed Tony in 2019 and has spoken highly of him publicly even as Tony faced ethics and professional standards investigations after a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report detailed how Tony had repeatedly lied and covered up a variety of matters, including his arrest for murder in Philadelphia when he was 14 – and his later drug use.

“I would hope your statements were mere political posturing,” Uthmeier wrote. “But if not, your expressed positions would constitute a failure of your statutory obligation to utilize best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.” Uthmeier cited newly enacted Florida Statute 908.104(1), which requires state officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announcing on Feb. 13 that he’d signed a bill making Florida “the strongest state in the nation for immigration enforcement.”

TONY’S REPLY

In his Monday afternoon reply, Tony didn’t directly address whether he was grandstanding at last week’s workshop but said this:

“Let me reassure you that, as Sheriff of Broward County, I fully appreciate and understand my responsibilities under Florida law as they pertain to immigration enforcement,” he wrote in a reply letter to Uthmeier. “It is BSO’s priority to address criminal activity within our community, including crimes committed by unauthorized aliens, and to work with our federal partners.”

Tony went on to acknowledge that BSO has standing cooperation agreements with ICE, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including a February “287(g) Task Force Model authorizing trained and credentialed deputies “to assist ICE with federal immigration enforcement upon request. BSO has been complying, and will continue to comply, with our obligations under these agreements.”

“BSO is not only enforcing the law against unauthorized aliens who commit crimes in the community, it is also a leader in this effort,” Tony wrote. “Just over two months ago, I hosted a press conference with the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to announce the arrest of nine MS 13 gang members responsible for multiple murders in Broward County. BSO initiated this investigation, working in partnership” with the FBI and other federal agencies. He also told Uthmeier how, five years ago, BSO “reopened a closed homicide investigation and a Brazilian foreign national as the prime suspect in a series of homicides in Broward County in the early 2000s.”

“These are just a few examples cited to reassure you of BSO’s continuing commitment to work with our federal partners to address criminal activity by unauthorized aliens in our community,” Tony wrote. “As a law enforcement agency, BSO will continue to comply with Florida law regarding immigration enforcement.

“Again, thank you for the opportunity to clarify my remarks. I trust that this response gives you a better perspective and understanding of my commitment to complying with Florida laws and combatting crime within our community,” he wrote. Tony sent a copy to Gov. DeSantis.

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Comments

11 responses to “Broward Sheriff Tony backs down on immigration stance after Florida AG threatens his job”

  1. So no comments…….?
    What’s up with that …… ?

    Thankfully rds is term limited.

  2. Steven S. Klotz Avatar
    Steven S. Klotz

    So — “Sheriff TACO?”

  3. Edward Alan Crespo Avatar
    Edward Alan Crespo

    Talk is cheap, Mark. Changing his tune was a smart move by Sheriff Tony. The last thing he needs is MORE bad publicity….let alone the possibility of losing his job! Even in a CORRUPT SHITHOLE like Broward County, the bad actors still FEAR the heavy hand of the U.S. government and the Florida AG’s office and the power they wield when enforcing federal law!

    Grumble privately about it all you want, Sheriff, but make sure to have a smile on your face when you’re assisting ICE in rounding up and deporting illegal aliens.

  4. Russell J. Di Perna Avatar
    Russell J. Di Perna

    Well, the big, tough-talking Sheriff of Broward County has backed down. Of course, not after blaming President Trump for the riots in LA. Probably not a wise decision, as we all know what happens when you criticize the President of the United States. It appears that Greg Tony will be injected into next year’s gubernatorial race. Will this equate to the new governor, a new sheriff? This will be an issue. As we approach November 2026, Toney will become increasingly belligerent, defiant, and amplify his sense of victimhood. However, this future scenario doesn’t bode well for Toney. His most powerful advocate just recently had his wings amputated and fried by the President. Also, come January 2027, there will be no state-sanctioned apparatus to protect him. I have to give Toney a little credit; he manipulated and defrauded the people of Broward County for much longer than expected. However, he had accomplices, and they held some of the most powerful positions in government. Politics is dynamic and can change abruptly.

  5. Greg Toney is a flip flop and his rhetoric is getting old fast. Ron DeSantis made a mistake in appointing Greg, but he’s too afraid to admit his mistake. Hopefully out next governor sees that
    Greg lied on so many applications and has him removed.

  6. Wait a second…he only has FOUR stars on his collar??? Did he demote himself? I try not to look at pictures of him, so maybe he wised up…but I doubt it. Will the Attorney General pursue it further? DeSantis may use him to get rid of his mistake.

  7. As a Florida resident I am uncomfortable with the ultimatum that was given to Sheriff Tony. My reason is that for his second term, he was voted in by the Florida residents, just as our governor and many other officials were voted in by the Florida residents. If a voted in official does not want to involve himself in an instruction given to him by a superior, an instruction that is really not part of the normal duties of that office, can that superior remove him from office after the residents stood in line to vote for him? Would that be fair? Would that be in accordance with the wishes of the people?

  8. Black folk in Broward dont like him, white folk in Broward dont like him, yet the man still manages to get elected Sheriff. He must be doing his job. So, he spoke out of emotion when he said BSO WOULD NOT participate in ICE raids. If my memory serves me, so did the Miami Dade Sheriff and a couple others throughout the state. But then, that knife is not his to fall on. And all of you in this thread complaining about the Sheriff walking back on his statement, where were YOU in the ‘24 election? Did you cross over (most likely) did you stay home and not vote (least likely) or did you simply not vote for the particular democratic nominee, but cast the ballot for every other?

    My point here is all who complaining about the Sheriff here are complicit and caused the man, and indeed every other American citizen to now have to deal with the morass.

    Check yourselves!

  9. Well good for you, Broward sheriff, at least not like Jupiter, Florida, where if you are a nurse, a doctor or veteran, the courts need no warrant, verified complaint, no evidence, even with no loan, no debt, documented homestead, owner occupied, the pbso ‘just followed court eviction notice with no attorney affadavit of fact, not subject to Florida Constitional Homestead law, no judicial order shall force sale of homestead…well not in Jupiter, and not if the judge is Gunster law whom represented the Plaintiffs directors other holdings.

    Welcome to you own nothing unless you pay off the crocked attorneys, judges and even court clerks…take a look at the cert of title
    for 141 maplecrest cir, jupiter, fl

    Jupiter CFO jupiter medical, steals ss payroll taxes from drs and nurses and convicted, but buddy of trumps son, gets pardoned…
    Remember the flagman, jupiter, yeah well this nurse subject to same theft, took all and not even a hearing or any evidence or sworn complaiint verified as required all foreclosures must be verified, ect … just get another judge to “verify” the foreclsoure for you, no problem, destroyed another life, no big deal , right………….
    Lisa CAntrell, used to have credit, homeowner, no mtg, no credit cards no debt, but attorney Azar charged 300k to me in legal fees, while “has no knowledge of account before during or after foreclsoure’/////???
    appeals court 4dca gave opposing 10 days to answer lack of sbject mmatter jjjjurisdictioin, bt before answer due, dismissed appeal??

    CROOKS, CROONIES and CLOWNS…United States of ?????????????????????????

  10. Sheriff, I think you should consider Lisa for a Colonel position. She’s qualified based on your standards.

  11. Steven Klotz Avatar

    Will Brown: For the record, THIS voter on the thread, repulsed by Sheriff Tony from Day One (and not a ‘Crat), voted against him in 2024. That he’d climb up on his hind legs and thump his chest, only to back down and slink away with his tail ticked when confronted by Power, was to fulfill expectations.

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