Pembroke Pines police have partnered with ICE for 9 months. Here’s what we know
The Pembroke Pines Police Department reached its nine-month anniversary working alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 14.
News to you? Here’s what we know on how the partnership has played out.
How it started
Pembroke Pines police joined forces with ICE on April 14, 2025, as part of its 287(g) Task Force Model program — described by ICE as a “force multiplier” for police to carry out limited immigration authority during their routine duties — according to the federal agency’s records.
The city’s collaboration follows a trend of Broward agencies partnering with immigration officials that started in 2025, including the Sheriff’s Office in February, the Pembroke Park Police Department in April and the Florida Atlantic Police Department in July.
Participating agencies in neighboring Miami-Dade County include the Doral Police Department, Miami Springs Police Department, West Miami Police Department, City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
What is the 287(g) Task Force Model?
Though there’s been a significant uptick in 287(g) partnerships — a 641% jump as of September under President Donald Trump’s second term, reports the Department of Homeland Security — the program has been around since 1996 as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act.
ICE’s Task Force Model, which grants police the most immigration authority of the program’s four models, was discontinued by the Barack Obama administration in 2012, but was reinstated at the start of Trump’s second term through his expansion of the 287(g) program.
Pembroke Pines Police Department’s contract with ICE says officers can do the following under the model:
- Interrogate anyone lacking or believed to be lacking legal status as to their right to be or remain in the United States
- Process for immigration violations individuals who have been arrested for state or federal offenses
- Arrest without a warrant any person entering or attempting to unlawfully enter the United States in an officer’s presence
- Arrest without a warrant any person believed to be in the U.S. illegally and escape before a warrant can be obtained
- Arrest without a warrant for felonies committed and identifiable “under any law of the United States regulating the admission, exclusion, expulsion, or removal of aliens,” if the person is believed to be in the country illegally and escape before a warrant can be obtained
- Serve and execute warrants of arrest for immigration violations
- Administer oaths, take and consider evidence required in processing (fingerprinting, photographing, interviewing), prepare affidavits, take sworn statements for ICE supervisory review
- Prepare charging documents for the signature of an ICE officer
- Issue immigration detainers
- Take and maintain custody of people arrested by ICE or another state or local law enforcement agency on behalf of ICE
- Take and maintain custody of people arrested for immigration violations and transport them to ICE detention facilities
ICE-authorized officers are still bound to federal civil rights statutes and regulations, the contract explains. That means they can’t racially profile to perform their duties and must grant all those they arrest their consitutional protections, including the right to remain silent, due process and have an interpreter available for those with limited English.
Since all immigration enforcement activities must be monitored by the federal agency, police are also required to contact an ICE supervisor at the time of performing any authorized duties.
The contract is to stay in effect until either Pembroke Pines police or ICE terminates or suspends the agreement, which the federal agency could do if the department is found guilty of “serious misconduct or violations of the (contract’s) terms.”
“Like numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the state, our police department entered legally into the 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Assistant Chief Carlos Bermudez told the Pembroke Pines News on Jan. 14. “As always, all our officers will continue to treat residents and visitors within our city with respect and professionalism.”
Arrests made and officer training
Only two arrests have been made under PPPD’s partnership with ICE, according to police records released to the Pembroke Pines News on Jan. 12.
The first was on Sept. 8, when officers detained Jose Cabello Reyes — a 61-year-old who resided in Pines’ Boulevard Heights neighborhood — following a baseless tip, according to an incident report.
Police launched a narcotics investigation into Cabello Reyes after receiving an anonymous tip that he was selling marijuana out of his vehicle, a silver Nissan Altima.
Though the investigation resulted in “no observed narcotics activity” on Cabello Reyes’ part, according to the report, a background check revealed he was “wanted by I.C.E. agents for a prior DUI involving a ‘refusal to submit.’”
Officers then contacted immigration officials to coordinate his arrest, which they say took place on Sept. 18.
Pembroke Pines police assistance was also requested by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Criminal Investigations Division for the arrest of Yolanda Francois — a 46-year-old Haitian who resided less than two miles from Reyes — on Sept. 21.
Her incident report lists she was “wanted for violations of federal immigration law” and that both FDFS and PPPD responded to her house to apprehend her.
FDFS officials “detained and handcuffed” Francois without incident and placed her in the back seat of their agency vehicle, according to the report, while the PPPD officer stayed behind to provide her family members information on how to contact her.
Officers who participate in the 287(g) partnership are nominated by Chief of Police Jose Vargas, must have at least two years of experience at PPPD and undergo a background check as well as mandatory training.
Triaining consists of in-person and online education that covers contract terms, the scope of immigration officer authority, relevant immigration law, ICE’s Use of Force Policy, civil rights law, the detention of aliens, public outreach and complaint procedures, liability issues, cross-cultural issues and arrest notification procedures.
Once certified, ICE provides trained police signed authorization to perform immigration duties for “an initial period of two years,” according to the contract.
Records show that five Pembroke Pines officers are enlisted under the Task Force Model: officers Andres H. Lopez, Yalile M. Nader, Bradley E. Hyatt, Aner Gonzalez and Jesus E. Moreno Castelo.
They’re listed as having completed a 14-hour online course as part of the ICE ERO Delegated Immigration Officer Training Program.
Why haven’t I heard of this?
If this is the first time you’re hearing of this partnership, that’s because the Pembroke Pines Police Department isn’t required to discuss it.
ICE leaves communications “of the substance of this agreement” to third parties — a public record made available through the federal agency’s website — to the police department’s discretion, according to the contract.
Information obtained or developed through the 287(g) program belongs to ICE and can’t be disclosed by PPPD without immigration officials’ permission, with the federal agency emphasizing that its procedures do not limit Pembroke Pines police’s compliance with Florida public record laws.
Pembroke Pines News reporter Carla Mendez contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 3:48 PM.
