close 
Migrant arrested on Florida roadside by federal, local law enforcement
Alexander Aguilar Velasquez, 24, from Guatemala, was detained for driving without a driver’s license by local and federal law enforcement in St. Johns County, Florida, on Monday, February 24, 2025.
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account – free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Having trouble? Click here.
EXCLUSIVE: ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Local jurisdictions are responding to the Trump administration’s call to apprehend illegal immigrants by collaborating closely with federal immigration authorities to carry out arrests.
Fox News Digital observed the collaboration firsthand by accompanying the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) in Florida during its operations. The county’s task force collaborates with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Border Patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal immigrants and dismantle human smuggling and sex-trafficking operations.
The SJSO task force is headed up by Sgt. Bobby Kukar and consists of approximately 20 to 25 local, state and federal law enforcement officers who conduct weekly operations along the Interstate 95 corridor.
Fox News Digital previously reported on the SJSO’s task force.
FLORIDA SHERIFF SAYS ICE PARTNERSHIP ONLY THE BEGINNING IN ILLEGAL MIGRANT CRACKDOWN
Alexander Aguilar Velasquez, 24, from Guatemala, is detained for driving without a license as a group of local and federal law enforcement agencies work in tandem to apprehend illegal immigrants in St. Johns County, Florida on Monday, February 24, 2025. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)
The task force patrols the Interstate 95 corridor. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)
In one instance, the task force happened upon a broken-down Dodge Ram truck at a stoplight in St. Augustine. The pair, a 19-year-old and 24-year-old, were identified as migrants illegally present from Guatamala.
Alexander Aguilar Velasquez, 24, from Guatemala was arrested by Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Zetts and taken to the ICE field office in Jacksonville. The 19-year-old was released by immigration authorities and was given a court date.
FLORIDA SHERIFF ASKS TRUMP’S ICE TO REMOVE BIDEN-ERA ‘SHACKLES’
The immigration official said that Velasquez had two previous contacts with ICE and had ignored his court date after crossing over. He was issued a final order for removal.
Matt Zetts, (R) from Border Patrol, uses his database to search the names of the two Colombians who were detained as a task force comprising federal law enforcement agencies working in tandem to apprehend illegal immigrants in St. Johns County, Florida on Monday, February 24, 2025. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)
The situation in St. Johns County offers a glimpse into how local authorities are partnering with federal officials, as the White House has pledged to curb illegal immigration.
Hardwick previously shared with Fox News Digital how, under his leadership, the county is prioritizing public safety by initiating the task force and closely collaborating with immigration authorities. The sheriff’s office has been operating a task force for over a year but has amplified operations following President Trump’s election.
St. Johns is part of the 287(g) program that allows ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers certain immigration functions, including identifying and detaining suspected illegal immigrants.
WATCH: SHERIFF HARDWICK ON IMMIGRATION
He shared that on Fridays at 2 p.m., they meet with federal, state and local partners to discuss the worst of the worst criminal aliens wanted in Florida or in the immediate area.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“And a simple warning, that in the state of Florida, if you are wanted — whether you’re an illegal alien or you’re a citizen of the United States — we are going to hunt you down to find you and hold you accountable for your actions,” he said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE and DHS for comment.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a U.S. Writer at Fox News Digital.
Sarah joined FOX in 2021, where she has assisted on coverage of breaking and major news events across the US and around the world, including the fallout following the “Defund the police” movement, the assassination attempts on President Donald Trump’s life and illegal immigration.
She has experience reporting on topics including crime, politics, business, lifestyle, world news and more. You can follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn.