Pour yourself a double, folks, because Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is madder than a wet hen, and he’s got the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in his crosshairs. The feds, in a move dumber than a screen door on a submarine, decided to use PCSO’s own email list to send recruitment letters to Judd’s deputies, offering fat bonuses to jump ship. Let’s just say Judd ain’t toasting to that.
Here’s the deal: ICE, desperate to beef up its ranks with 10,000 new agents for Trump’s deportation push, sent emails dangling a $50,000 signing bonus and up to $60,000 in student loan payoffs. The catch? They targeted deputies trained under the 287(g) program—folks Polk County spent time and taxpayer dollars to certify for ICE’s immigration work. Judd, who’s been a rockstar partner in Florida’s 287(g) agreements, called it straight-up “Bush league” on MSNBC. “It’s biting the hand that feeds you,” he growled, and you can bet he’s not wrong.
See, PCSO handed over deputy contact info to ICE for 287(g) credentialing, not for the feds to play pirate and poach talent. Judd, joined by sheriffs like Pinellas’s Bob Gualtieri and Volusia’s Mike Chitwood, is livid. “We’re bending over backwards to help ICE, and this is the thanks we get?” Judd said, probably while mentally reloading. He’s even calling out DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to put on her “big girl pants” and apologize. Shots fired, and we’re here for it.
Now, let’s talk stakes. Polk County’s sheriff’s office is already 68 deputies short, and they’re hustling with their own $20,000 sign-on bonuses to fill the gap. ICE’s stunt could kneecap local law enforcement while they’re out there keeping Polk safe and helping ICE round up the bad guys. And for what? A federal flex that screams, “We don’t respect our partners.” DHS claims they’re just recruiting “patriots” to deport “gang members and child pedophiles,” but using Judd’s own data to steal his team is a low blow.
Judd’s still got ICE’s back, says the state-level ICE supervisors are “remarkably good”, but he’s not here for the feds’ nonsense.
PoliticalBourbon.com tip: when you tick off a man who once arrested a guy for stealing a single beer, you’ve poured gasoline on a bonfire.
Here’s to Judd giving ICE a masterclass in loyalty, Southern style. Cheers to that, Polk County.PoliticalBourbon.com serves up unfiltered takes on Florida politics with a shot of common sense. Stay tuned for more.
