Exclusive: st. Augustine, Florida – Local jurisdictions respond Trump administration We call for illegal immigrants to be arrested by working closely with federal immigration authorities.
Fox News Digital observed the collaboration firsthand by accompanying the St. John's County Sheriff's Office (SJSO) in Florida. The county task force is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Border Patrol and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal immigrants and to dismantle human smuggling. Sex Trafficking Operations.
The SJSO Task Force is led by a Sergeant. Bobby Kukar is made up of approximately 20-25 local, state and federal law enforcement officers who run weekly operations along the 95 interstate corridors.
Fox News Digital previously reported on the SJSO task force.
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Alexander Aguilar Velazquez, 24, of Guatemala, is currently being detained for driving without a license as he works as a group of local and federal law enforcement groups to arrest illegal immigrants in St. John's County, Florida on Monday, February 24, 2025. (Fox News Digital's Stephanie Keith)
The task force patrols the 95 interstate corridor. (Fox News Digital's Stephanie Keith)
In one instance, the task force took place on a Dodge Ram truck broken at St. Augustine's stoplight. The 19- and 24-year-old pairs were identified as illegal immigrants from Guatamara.
Alexander Aguilar Velazquez, 24, of Guatemala, was arrested by Matthew Zetz, the chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol, and was taken to the Ice Field Office in Jacksonville. The 19-year-old was released by immigration authorities and was given a court date.
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Immigration officers said Velazquez had two previous contacts with ICE and ignored his court date after it crossed. He was issued a final order for removal.
Matt Zetts, (R) Matt Zetts of Border Patrol, uses the database to search for the names of two Columbians detained as federal law enforcement agencies working together to arrest illegal immigrants in St. John's County, Florida on Monday, February 24, 2025. (Fox News Digital's Stephanie Keith)
The situation in St. John's County offers a glimpse into how local governments partner with federal officials as the White House has pledged to curb illegal immigration.
Hardwick previously shared it with Fox News Digital. Under his leadership, the county has launched a task force and prioritizes public safety by working closely with immigration authorities. The Sheriff's Office has been running the task force for over a year, amplifying operations after President Trump's election.
St. John's is part of a 287(g) program that allows ICE to delegate certain immigration functions to state and local law enforcement officials, including ICE identifying and detaining allegedly illegal immigrants.
Watch: Sheriff Hardwick on Immigration
He shared it on Friday at 2pm, and they meet with federal, state and local partners to discuss the worst criminal aliens. I wanted it in Florida Or just nearby.
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“And in Florida, whether you're an illegal alien or a US citizen, we're going to hunt you down to find you and hold you accountable for your actions,” he said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ice and DHS for comment.
