ICE directives may violate Florida's open records laws. A Sarasota case shows where courts stand

By: Gabriella Paul | WUSF, June 2, 2026 

A new directive from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may violate Florida's open records laws. 

These so-called 287(g) agreements keep participating local agencies, like police, sheriff's offices and airports, from releasing information about immigration enforcement activities without federal approval.  

This contradicts Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes that protects the public's access to government records. The state's public records law also prohibits an agency from entering into a contract that "impairs the ability of the public to inspect or copy the public records." 

"Any documents created by the LEA that contain information developed or obtained as a result of this MOA, is under the control of ICE," according to text from the memorandum.