Okaloosa County approves memorandum with ICE to participate in warrant-service officer program

Okaloosa County commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to accept a memorandum of agreement (MOA) from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to participate in a warrant-service officer program established under federal immigration law, following the governor's recent signing of state legislation requiring local cooperation.

The county's director of public safety and interim director of corrections, Pat Maddox, told commissioners the new Florida law (referred to in the packet as SB 2C) requires county detention facilities to enter written agreements with ICE and said the MOA the county received sets a deadline to respond. "Monday of this week ISA had reached out to the county's Department of Corrections with a memorandum of agreement for the warrant service officer or WSO program ... and gave the county until end of day Tuesday 02/18/2025 to enter into the MOA," Maddox said during the meeting.

The MOA would allow a limited, nominated group of correctional personnel to work with ICE under the program; Maddox said the county would adopt a local policy mirroring the MOA's selection criteria and that the MOA appears to contemplate ICE taking custody upon release from local confinement. "The way that I read the language in there right now ... it is nomination of limited personnel," Maddox said, adding the county would prepare local procedures and coordinate with the Sheriff's Office.

Commissioners asked for operational clarifications about selection, training and where processing would occur. One commissioner noted the arrangement would likely function similarly to other federal-local task-force arrangements that deputize select local personnel for specific missions. The board asked staff to continue coordination with the Sheriff's Office and to develop local policy language and selection procedures consistent with the MOA.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Palmer made the motion to approve consideration of the MOA (later followed by a motion to accept), a second was recorded, and the board voted unanimously to accept the memorandum and move forward with implementation steps. The motion passed with unanimous voice vote.

Why it matters: The MOA responds to newly enacted state requirements and carries potential operational and personnel implications for the county jail, including selection of staff for the program, training obligations and the handling of immigration detainers. Maddox and commissioners said they will continue implementation planning, notify affected departments and draft local policies to reflect the MOA's terms.

What remains: Maddox said staff will finalize local SOP language, coordinate training, and discuss responsibilities with the Sheriff's Office for South End booking and other facilities. The MOA itself was included in the meeting packet and will be available as a public record.