Rosie Cordero-Stutz, newly elected sheriff of Miami-Dade County, recently reaffirmed her commitment to public safety while cooperating with federal authorities “when necessary.” This nuanced stance comes amid ongoing national debates on immigration enforcement and community trust.
In a video statement released on social networks, Cordero-Stutz stressed that her deputies do not investigate a person’s immigration status, focusing instead on arresting those who break local laws.
“My deputies will arrest anyone who has committed a crime, regardless of immigration status…. If you are arrested for committing a misdemeanor and you have already been detained for immigration reasons, you will be turned over to the appropriate agency,” she said, according to CBS News.
Supporting federal efforts while maintaining local focus
While the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (MDSO) does not have the authority to deport individuals, it does collaborate with federal agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when requested.
Programs such as the federal 287(g) initiative enable collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE to identify people with outstanding immigration issues while in custody.
Sheriff Cordero-Stutz’s approach aligns with long-standing practices in Miami-Dade but takes on new significance as immigration remains a contentious political issue.
In an interview with CBS News Miami, she clarified that her deputies are not immigration enforcement officers and only intervene in specific legal contexts. She stressed the importance of ensuring that victims of crime feel safe reporting incidents, without fear of consequences related to their immigration status.
Sheriff Cordero-Stutz, who took office in early 2025, made history by becoming Miami-Dade’s first elected sheriff in over 50 years and the first Hispanic woman to hold the office.
Her election follows a constitutional amendment requiring the county to reinstate the office of elected sheriff, a position that had been abolished following corruption scandals in the 1960s.
A seasoned law enforcement professional with 28 years of experience, Ms. Cordero-Stutz served as deputy director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Her campaign, backed by prominent Republicans including Donald Trump and Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, focused on strengthening public safety and restoring confidence in law enforcement.
Florida law requires local agencies to cooperate with ICE by honoring detention requests, which give federal authorities additional time to transfer custody of undocumented individuals.
However, Miami-Dade County has chosen not to participate in programs to assign local officers to immigration enforcement, thus maintaining a clear line between local policing and federal immigration responsibilities.
Miami-Dade: A bastion of Haitian immigrants
Miami-Dade is the U.S. county with the highest number of Haitian immigrants. It comprises 25 cities and 9 villages, including parts of Miami, North Miami, Miami Beach, and North Miami Beach, Haitian strongholds where many residents are undocumented, according to ICE data.
As Miami-Dade enters a new era of elected law enforcement leadership, Sheriff Cordero-Stutz faces the dual challenge of ensuring public safety while fostering trust among the diverse communities she serves. Her clear stance on immigration enforcement reflects an effort to balance these priorities, ensuring that the law is upheld without compromising the sense of security