Two drivers arrested, one cited under Pembroke Pines police partnership with ICE
Two traffic stops and a crash investigation resulted in three encounters documented under the Pembroke Pines Police Department’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year, records show.
The records, released in late June, document two arrests on Jan. 9 and Feb. 9 and a traffic citation issued on Jan. 14. The incident reports provide new details about the arrests but include redactions to names, dates of birth, addresses and other identifying information following ICE review.
The city’s police department joined forces with ICE on April 14, 2025, through a 287(g) Task Force Model program.
The program allows local police departments to carry out limited immigration authority during their routine duties, including traffic stops and patrol.
Pembroke Pines is not the only local city to participate.
In Broward County, the participating agencies as of July 9 also include the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Pembroke Park Police Department, the Florida Atlantic Police Department, Coconut Creek Police Department, Davie Police Department and Hollywood Police Department, according to ICE.
Participating agencies in neighboring Miami-Dade County include the Doral Police Department, Miami Springs Police Department, Coral Gables Police Department, West Miami Police Department, City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Records requested by the Pembroke Pines News show four people have been arrested in connection with the Pembroke Pines Police Department’s partnership with ICE since the program began.
Two have been made so far in 2026, all within several weeks of each other.
Despite the heavy redactions, the incident reports provide new details about the three documented encounters under the agreement earlier this year.
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Two arrests, one citation in first half of 2026
The first arrest happened on Jan. 9 in a residential area after officers pulled over a Guatemalan man during a traffic stop, with the report saying the vehicle he was driving had only “one operable headlight and no operable license plate light.”
Police identified him through a fingerprint scanner after he allegedly provided a fake name. He was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license and giving false identification to law enforcement.
“The driver further stated he was from Guatemala, had been living in the United States illegally for several years and never possessed driver’s license,” the incident report reads.
He was taken to the Broward Sheriff’s Office Main Jail for the city’s charges, and police confirmed his immigration status with ICE, documents show. An agent said ICE would send a detainer to the jail, according to a supplemental report.
According to Broward County court records, the man pleaded no contest to the charges Jan. 26. The judge withheld adjudication and didn’t enter a formal conviction against him. It is unclear whether he is in custody, was deported or was released.
Five days after the first incident, Pembroke Pines police stopped an Audi driver near a Publix on University Drive. The activity log describes the stop as a “documented encounter” involving an expired student visa and notes the visa holder had no criminal history.
The log states the driver was released with a traffic citation.
Court records for the man’s criminal traffic case remain active as of Thursday, July 9. He faces charges of operating a vehicle without a valid license, having an expired temporary tag for seven days or less and failing to maintain required insurance coverage.
Several hearings have been reset and his most recent hearing on July 7 was not held after he failed to appear, according to court records.
The second arrest occurred Feb. 9 during a crash investigation on Sheridan Street near Interstate 75.
Police determined the driver of a company pickup truck did not possess a valid driver’s license and had an “active immigration removal order,” according to the report. Records list the driver’s place of birth as Cuba. ICE agents responded to the scene and took him to their headquarters, documents show.
Court records indicate his traffic criminal case remains active. He faces charges of operating a vehicle without a valid license and following too closely. An arraignment scheduled for March 31 was not held after he failed to appear, and a capias was issued for his arrest May 12, according to court records.
The Pembroke Pines News has reached out to ICE to confirm the custody status of the three individuals.
