Gainesville police adopt new immigration reporting policy

The Gainesville Police Department (GPD) has adopted a new policy requiring officers to complete documentation when encountering individuals suspected of being in the United States illegally. GPD spokesperson Art Forgey stated the policy was implemented to comply with a request from the Florida State Immigration Enforcement Council following inquiries regarding previous arrests and background checks.

Local residents and the Gainesville Immigrant Neighborhood Inclusion (GINI) initiative have protested the decision. GINI representative Ethan Maia de Needell argued that the policy is not actually required by the state and expressed concerns that it could jeopardize the safety of victims and witnesses, ultimately damaging public trust within the community.