"As Governor, I will ensure full cooperation between state and federal authorities and make sure every level of government is accountable."
As governor, Byron Donalds will ensure full cooperation between Florida state agencies and federal immigration authorities.
Occurrences
Fight Illegal Immigration: Byron stands with President Trump to secure the border, keep our families and communities safe, end taxpayer handouts to illegals, and stop drugs from pouring into our country.
Here in Florida, we're participating with ICE. We're working with them through the 287(g) program. Governor DeSantis has made sure every law enforcement official in our state is going to cooperate in with the federal government
Evidence
The campaign's current issues page says under 'Fight Illegal Immigration' that 'Byron stands with President Trump to secure the border, keep our families and communities safe, end taxpayer handouts to illegals, and stop drugs from pouring into our country.'
The campaign said Donalds' public safety platform includes 'requiring full cooperation between Florida agencies and federal immigration enforcement' and quoted Donalds saying, 'As Governor, I will ensure full cooperation between state and federal authorities.'
Donalds said Florida is 'participating with ICE' and 'working with them through the 287(g) program,' while praising Governor DeSantis for making sure 'every law enforcement official in our state is going to cooperate' with the federal government.
Congress.gov lists Rep. Donalds as sponsor of H.R. 5177, introduced 2025-09-08, and shows the latest action as referral to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on 2025-09-09; the bill's summary describes enforcement of commercial vehicle safety requirements and state compliance checks.
The campaign said Donalds' public safety platform includes requiring full cooperation between Florida agencies and federal immigration enforcement and quoted Donalds saying, "As Governor, I will ensure full cooperation between state and federal authorities."
The campaign issues page says Donalds stands with President Trump to secure the border, keep families and communities safe, end taxpayer handouts to illegals, and stop drugs from entering the country.
AP reported that Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds announced he was entering the 2026 race to succeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was ineligible to seek another term after eight years in office.
The Florida Executive Office of the Governor site identified Ron DeSantis as the 46th Governor of Florida and featured official gubernatorial news dated June 30, 2026.
Donalds' official House biography describes him as a United States Congressman representing Florida's 19th Congressional District in Washington, DC, after prior service in the Florida House.
Donalds said Florida was participating with ICE and working through the 287(g) program, and praised Governor DeSantis for making sure law enforcement officials in Florida cooperate with the federal government.
Florida Senate records show SB 2-C was approved by the Governor on February 13, 2025 and became Chapter No. 2025-1 on February 14, 2025; the bill summary included creating state immigration enforcement bodies and enforcing compliance with federal immigration detainers.
The enrolled bill text says state and local law enforcement agencies must use best efforts to support enforcement of federal immigration law, must provide certain inmate immigration-status information on request, and must enter ICE 287(g) agreements for county detention facilities.
ICE says the 287(g) program lets ICE partner with state and local law enforcement agencies, and notes that several states, including Florida, have passed or considered state legislation mandating law enforcement agencies seek or enter memorandums of agreement with ICE.
Assessments
The promise is explicitly framed as an action Donalds would take as Florida governor. As of July 1, 2026, he was a U.S. representative and candidate for governor, not Florida governor, so he has not yet had the promised office authority to deliver it. Florida has enacted cooperation mechanisms with federal immigration authorities under Governor Ron DeSantis and the state legislature, and Donalds has endorsed that posture, but the evidence does not show Donalds implemented it as governor or materially caused the state outcome. The promise remains a future campaign commitment rather than fulfilled, failed, or fully creditable to him.
Donalds has made this as a Florida gubernatorial campaign promise, but he has not yet served as Florida governor, so the promised executive outcome cannot be credited as fulfilled or failed. Existing Florida cooperation with ICE appears to be current state policy under other officials, and Donalds' federal immigration-related activity does not itself implement cooperation by Florida state agencies as governor.