Florida official encourages people with undocumented exes to call ICE hotline
Florida's top prosecutor is encouraging victims of domestic violence, or anyone with an 'ex' in the United States illegally, to call his office.
"If your ex is in this country illegally, please feel free to reach out to our office. We'd be happy to assist," Uthmeier said in a social media post.
Uthmeier said his office received a tip from someone whose abusive former partner overstayed a tourism visa. The alleged abuser is now in the process of being deported, he said.
Only the federal government can deport individuals in the country illegally, but Florida has been working closely with the Trump administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE already has a tip line that receives more than 15,000 calls a month, according to the agency. Staff collect information received from phone calls and turn over the information to specific programs within the Department of Homeland Security.
"Individuals across the world can report suspicious criminal activity to the ICE Tip Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on more than 400 laws enforced by ICE," the agency says on its website.
We recently got a tip from someone whose abusive ex overstayed a tourism visa. He is now cued up for deportation.If your ex is in this country illegally, please feel free to reach out to our office. We'd be happy to assist.
The agency said it does not offer rewards for aiding in immigration enforcement.
ICE did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY request for comment.
Who is Uthmeier, the brains behind 'Alligator Alcatraz'?
Uthmeier has been one of the most vocal supporters of the president's immigration agenda. As the federal government has ramped up detaining and deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally, Uthmeier, along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have prioritized using state resources to complement the federal efforts.
Uthmeier, formerly the governor's chief of staff, was also involved with a controversial program in 2022 to fly migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Now, he's most known for his most recent idea, the detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz."
On June 19, Uthmeier posted a video to X suggesting that the "virtually abandoned" Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a 39-square mile property with a 10,500-foot runway, could be easily converted into a temporary immigrant detention center to aid in Florida's efforts to locate and deport "criminal aliens."
Alligator Alcatraz, which began receiving detainees earlier this month, can house up to 3,000 people.
"We want to fill this place up," Uthmeier told President Donald Trump during his visit to the detention facility on July 1. The attorney general said the president was the "inspiration" for the Everglades detention center, adding "hopefully there's more to come."
Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.
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