Thursday

21-August-2025

ICE Offering $50K Recruitment Bonus, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd Not Happy

Grady Judd Full Interview

Polk County, FL — Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd addressed a recruitment effort by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting his deputies. ICE, under pressure from the Trump administration to hire 10,000 new agents, has been sending recruitment emails to officers.

The emails offer a potential $50,000 signing bonus and other benefits, primarily targeting deputies from agencies participating in the 287(g) program, which deputizes local and state law enforcement to assist ICE. All 67 counties in Florida have signed 287(g) agreements. Judd noted that the targeted officers received specialized training in immigration enforcement, funded by his office. He stated that the recruitment tactic undermines the partnership between local and federal agencies.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri echoed these concerns, with his office releasing a statement to NBC News indicating that ICE’s use of the partnership to recruit personnel is inappropriate, and they have communicated their concerns to ICE leadership. Judd mentioned that other sheriffs share similar frustrations about the recruitment approach. Nothing further at this time.

Editor