Naples Police Chief Joins New State Immigration Council

Naples Police Chief Ciro Dominguez joined the new eight-member Florida State Immigration Enforcement Council on February 19. 

Just two days into serving as the new Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, Governor Ron DeSantis’ former chief of staff, appointed Dominguez to the new Florida State Immigration Enforcement Council, according to a February 20 statement from the Naples Police Department. 

“I am grateful and ready to add value to the effort,” said Dominguez in the prepared public statement.  

“The mission is to collaborate with other law enforcement executives, chiefs and sheriffs to offer ideas, best practices, and compassion to the challenges we face related to illegal immigration,” Dominguez said. 

In addition to swearing by the law, Dominguez mentioned compassion multiple times in the short statement. 

“Together we can ensure the State of Florida has the strongest illegal immigration measures in place to foster safe communities and safe streets, all while providing compassion, dignity, and respect to all. We, as a Council, will address the dangers of illegal immigration to keep Florida safe, strong, and free,” Dominguez said. 

He brings nearly 40 years of experience in law enforcement to the state’s new Immigration Enforcement Council. 

“It is an honor and a tremendous responsibility to have been appointed by the Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to the Florida State Immigration Enforcement Council,” he said. 

The new Council was created on Thursday, February 13 when DeSantis signed Senate Bill 2C into law. The Council includes four sheriffs and four police chiefs, each appointed in the days following the Bill’s approval.  

Dominguez will serve a two-year term as will three other members who were appointed by DeSantis, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who also serves as State Fire Marshal and a member of the Florida Cabinet. 

Other members of the new Immigration Council will serve four-year terms to keep the Council members staggered.  

The Council is to exchange information between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Other Immigration Council members include Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, both appointed by Senate President Ben Albritton; Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell and Duval County Sheriff T.K. Waters, both appointed by House Speaker Daniel Perez; St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke appointed by Simpson; Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Robert Barge, appointed by Patronis; Clermont Police Chief Charles “Chuck” Broadway, who is the immediate past president of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, appointed by DeSantis.