Florida Highway Patrol Troopers to Guard Miami-Dade DMVs

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers will now be stationed at all Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices in Miami-Dade County. This change follows the county tax collector’s takeover of DMV management from the state.

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez announced the move, emphasizing safety for staff and customers. “Sometimes people want to do bad things, and I’m not going to allow that,” he said.

However, concerns have emerged regarding immigration enforcement. A recent ICE arrest of an undocumented immigrant for using a fake license coincided with FHP’s announcement of its role in enforcing immigration laws. Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, allowing FHP troopers to assist in immigration enforcement.

The funding for these additional troopers remains unclear.