ICE reimbursements

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia, left, speaks during a press conference on illegal immigration as Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, right, listens at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala, Fla. on Thursday, June 4, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia presented $166,317 worth of reimbursement checks for their roles in immigration enforcement to three Florida law enforcement agencies, including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, during a press conference Thursday at the MCSO Operations Center in Ocala.

 “I am thankful for the dedication and tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners who have worked tirelessly to keep Floridians safe,” Ingoglia stated. 

The reimbursement funds presented were $69,117 for the MCSO, $77,200 for the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office and $20,000 for the town of Cross City Police Department, which were funded by the State Board of Immigration

An MCSO spokesperson said the three agencies were selected for reimbursement on Thursday but “there have been others.”

Ingoglia indicated this was the second round of reimbursement payments and the payments would continue. 

Ingoglia pointed to what he termed “ridiculous” policies, including sanctuary cities and free tuition to state educational facilities, adding that illegal immigrants had “no fear” and had access to benefits from food stamps to law degrees.

Immigration enforcement was hailed as “protecting communities” and helping to reduce the flow of people and drugs like Fentanyl sent in by drug cartels.

Ingoglia, a member of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement as a State Cabinet member, spoke about failed policies of both Democratic and Republican Party administrations for about 50 years, which failed to stem illegal immigration.

“The Biden administration not only allowed reckless illegal immigration across our borders, they intensified it,” Ingoglia stated.

“(We are at) a tipping point,” Ingoglia said of the illegal immigration issue. He said “leftist” politicians, for their roles in policies like sanctuary cities, should be “charged as accessories to crime and held accountable.” 

Ingoglia said he supports legal immigration and the ones most infuriated by illegal immigration are those who follow the legal steps to enter the country.

Ingoglia warned of policies which serve as “magnets” for illegal immigration.

Ingoglia discussed a 1986 amnesty initiative by the Reagan Administration to address a then approximately 3 million illegal immigrants. He said the number of illegal immigrants now in the U.S. is estimated at 13 million to 15 million.

Ingoglia said “you won’t hear it on TV” but a former Reagan Administration official, he stated, later felt the initiative just “created a magnet” and attracted more illegal immigrants.

The Dignity Act, a bill currently pending in Congress, has been called a “bipartisan effort.” The act would follow “biblical principles” while modernizing the country’s immigration system.

Several speakers, including Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, cited their family history with Woods stating that his grandmother came to the U.S. from France during World War I and she “knew more” about the Constitution than himself.

The  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department website, ice.gov, states an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 25, 2025, Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” requires ICE to authorize state and local law enforcement officials. The site states that the 1996 “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act” contains section 287(g) which authorizes ICE to “delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight.”

A later press release from the Office of Chief Financial Officer included a statement about the program to “partner” with local law enforcement.

“Local law enforcement agencies receive funding through the State Board of Immigration Enforcement for reimbursement of immigration enforcement activities. The Immigration and Nationality Act, under the 287 (g) agreement, allows state and local law enforcement to partner with ICE and provide bonuses to law enforcement officers who are trained under the agreement,” the statement reads. 

Woods said he visited the Southern U. S. border some time ago and saw people “pouring over.”

“The money awarded to my office by the State Board of Immigration Enforcement helps ensure the safety of our deputies by giving them the tools to do their jobs safely and efficiently,” Woods stated in the press release. 

Although the total number of Illegal immigrants who have been held in the Marion County Jail during the current immigration enforcement was not immediately available, Woods said about 30 non-U.S. citizens a week are detained and typically 15 to 18 are in the country illegally.

Accepting the funds for Bradford County was Col. Brad Smith, Chief Deputy, and for the Cross City PD, Chief Jamey King.  

Also speaking at the press conference were Rep. Ryan Chamberlain and Sen. Stan McClain.

In the audience, former Marion County Commissioner Glen Fiorello praised the enforcement efforts.

“Excellent,” Fiorello said. 

Meanwhile, the NAACP has called for, in a resolution, posted at naacp.org, changes at ICE including criminal background checks and drug test on agents, removal of masks on agents and, for “the U.S. Senate to remove and reallocate any funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

The resolution states that ICE has been transformed “into a massive, weaponized national law enforcement presence under the direction of the Executive Branch.”

An email to the Marion County Branch of the NAACP seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia Press Conference – Illegal Immigration Enforcement