FDLE briefs committee on $250 million immigration enforcement grant program; $14 million awarded so far

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement official on Wednesday told the Justice Budget Committee that the State Immigration Enforcement Grant Program established by the 2025 special session has $250,000,000 appropriated and that about $14 million has been approved in initial awards.

Melissa Buhada, director of Missing Persons and Offender Enforcement at FDLE, told the committee the grant program was created by legislation enacted in February 2025 and is administered under the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, which consists of the governor and cabinet. "Total appropriations for the grant was $250,000,000," Buhada said during the presentation.

The board has the authority to approve awards; Buhada said the board approved 56 agency applications in the initial round. She also said the executive director may approve awards under $25,000 that do not include equipment. "So far, the approved awards was $14,232,811.28 total," she said, and added that an additional $2.9 million in applications were pending.

Why it matters: the program covers a range of costs tied to immigration-enforcement activity, including training, detention bed reimbursement, transport costs and certain equipment and bonuses — but it is a reimbursement-only program. "This grant is the money is not submitted upfront ... It's reimbursement only," Buhada said, emphasizing that agencies must show proof of purchase to receive payment.

Who can apply and what is covered: Buhada said only local law enforcement agencies — sheriff's offices, municipal police departments and county detention centers — are eligible. She described allowable costs including 40-hour 287(g) training and ICE-approved certification programs, reimbursement for detention beds (the council recommended supplementing federal receipts up to $100 per bed per day), travel and lodging for task-force operations, overtime, limited equipment and software (board approval required), and one-time bonuses for credentialed officers.

Members pressed FDLE on timing, oversight and the program's financial status. Representative Gottlieb asked how long the program will last; Buhada replied that continuation depends on whether funds are reappropriated in future budgets and noted that FDLE does not use any of the appropriation for its own administrative expenses. Representative Gottlieb summarized the committee's understanding: "So there's $235,000,000 still sitting there," and Buhada confirmed awards to date leave a large unallocated balance.

Questions and clarifications: Representative Rainer asked whether the grant could be used when a law-enforcement arrest arising from a criminal investigation also results in a detention of someone who is undocumented; Buhada said detention-bed reimbursement could apply but agencies cannot "double dip" by also collecting federal payments for the same cost. Rainer also asked whether grant money may pay workers borrowed from other agencies to staff detention centers; Buhada said that would "not be an allowable expense."

Representative Skidmore and others asked what happens to unspent funds. Buhada said she did not have the specific statutory reversion process details at hand but offered to provide that information to committee staff; she pointed members to the emergency rule that lists allowable costs and said FDLE's legislative affairs office would supply recipient lists on request.

Other operational items: Buhada said the council amended earlier guidance to permit the purchase of transport vans for the 18 sheriff's offices participating in a coordinated transport plan. She also said some awards were approved by the board while smaller awards were handled by the executive director.

Next steps: FDLE said it would provide members a list of entities that have received awards and the text of the emergency rule that defines allowable costs. The committee adjourned without objection.