TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd captured national attention this week as he criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement for attempting to recruit his deputies.
Under pressure from the Trump administration, ICE seeks to hire 10,000 new agents, but the recruitment methods haven’t pleased some local law enforcement agencies.
According to Judd, Polk County deputies are now receiving recruitment emails from ICE, offering a potential $50,000 signing bonus and other benefits to join federal law enforcement.
NBC News reported that these emails were primarily sent to officers from agencies involved in the 287(g) program, which deputizes local and state law enforcement to support ICE. All 67 counties in Florida have signed onto 287(g) agreements.
Judd noted that they are targeting officers trained for immigration enforcement, with training costs covered by his office.
“I mean, that’s biting the hand that’s feeding you,” Judd said in an interview on MSNBC. “And I am angry.”
The sheriff criticized what he perceived as unprofessional conduct, saying this recruitment strategy harms the trust and respect between local and federal agencies, particularly when their cooperation is crucial.
Judd said he’s not the only sheriff who feels that way, and that he’d spoken with others who felt similarly blindsided by the move.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri was one of those sheriffs.
“ICE actively trying to use our partnership to recruit our personnel is wrong and we have expressed our concern to ICE leadership,” PCSO said in a statement to NBC News.
Judd also took aim at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who he held ultimately responsible for the new recruitment tactics.
“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,” Judd said.
