Sheriff Mina: Misleading by Omission and Inconsistency
Sheriff Mina’s statements present different narratives depending on the audience:
- To the public and media: The Sheriff claims full cooperation with ICE and enforcement of all laws.
- To his deputies: There are clear restrictions on engaging with immigration matters without high-level approval.
- In reality: The policy appears to be a controlled, selective cooperation with ICE, which was not initially disclosed until the leak of an internal email from Command Staff.
Sheriff Mina’s statements can be considered misleading because they obscure the full scope of the Sheriff’s actual policies and internal directives. The timing of statements following the email purportedly from OCSO Major Gutierrez (still not released as an official public record after requested but an image exists) suggests a reactive attempt to control the narrative, also known as Crisis Management:
- Before the leak: Internal policies reflect a limited engagement with immigration enforcement.
- After the leak: Public messaging emphasizes cooperation with ICE and enforcement of all laws, likely in response to political and community pressure.
Sheriff Mina is attempting to appease both sides: on one hand, reassuring immigrant communities that they are not actively seeking out undocumented individuals, while on the other hand signaling to law-and-order advocates that they are working with ICE when necessary.
Sheriff Mina’s unclear public statements and directives to agency personnel create confusion among deputies in the field. This hesitation poses a serious officer-safety risk, endangering not only the deputies themselves but also the law enforcement officers they assist and the general public.
You only have to look to the timeline of events to come to these conclusions.
Statement/Sheriff Mina – February 3, 2025, News Channel 13 article covering press conference.
“But he feels agencies like Orange County should not participate in immigration disputes. “That is the job of the federal government. I know many sheriffs share that same sentiment,” Mina said Wednesday. “We are focused on violent crime. Now certainly, if there is someone here in this country illegally that is a violent criminal, I’m just like everyone else — I don’t want to see them here either.”
Source: https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2025/02/05/immigration-local-law-enforcement
Statement/Email – March 3, 2025, The Gateway Pundit article with leaked content of email (believed to be sent sometime in December of 2024) stating the official policy stance of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on immigration enforcement, purportedly sent in an email from Major Gutierrez to Captains in his Chain of Command:
Captains,
Please ensure the following is conveyed to all of our patrol personnel:
Any ICE/Immigration related calls for service must be cleared through the chain of command to the Undersheriff and Sheriff. Our personnel will not take any action until given clear direction by the Office of the Undersheriff or Sheriff.
Respectfully,
Major Daniel Gutierrez
Source: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/fl-police-chief-dont-arrest-illegals-refuses-work/
Statement 3 – Internal Email from OCSO written in a tone that appears to come from Sheriff Mina himself or the Undersheriff.
Over the past several weeks there has been a lot of discussion and uncertainty about the Orange County Sheriff’s Office role in relation to enforcement of immigration laws. This has been complicated by the fact that new laws and orders have been enacted at both the state and federal level. Accordingly, I have directed the legal services section to put out guidance to deputies so that you have clarity about your authority with regard to immigration. That information will come out later today.
Our priority at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is to target violent criminals and drug dealers who put our citizens directly in harm’s way. But let me be clear; We will continue to enforce all laws within our authority including those that relate to unlawful immigration. In addition to that, we will continue to cooperate with state and federal partners to target criminals in our community. For example, last month I signed a 287(g) Agreement committing to partner with the Department of Homeland Security by providing deputies who will be trained to work as task force agents with DHS.
In fact, our deputies recently arrested a group of Columbian nationals suspected of committing hundreds of burglaries across the United States, and at least four of the five arrestees in this case could face charges under the new state immigration law, SB 4C. Through OCSO’s cooperation with our federal partners, those suspects are already in ICE custody.
I recognize that there are limitations on your authority, as most immigration enforcement takes place at the federal level. And the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is unique as we do not operate a jail, which is where most detention issues come up. Deputies must not exceed their authority in an effort to pursue suspected violations of immigration laws. We must ensure that all victims of crime feel safe coming to us and reporting crime, so that we can continue to arrest violent criminals and keep all of our residents safe.
Again, legal will send out specific guidance later today.
I want to thank you for all you do and your commitment to keeping our community safe.
Statement/Sheriff Mina – Facebook post, March 4, 2024 at 5:40PM
I want to clear up some misinformation that has been circulating on social media. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will continue to enforce all laws within our authority including those that relate to unlawful immigration. In addition to that, we will continue to cooperate with state and federal partners to target criminals in our community. For example, last month I signed a 287(g) Agreement committing to partner with the Department of Homeland Security by providing deputies who will be trained to work as task force agents with DHS. Our deputies have received this direction from me. At no point have I ever said that I would not cooperate with ICE or any federal agency.
Statement/Agency: Facebook Post, March 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We have been working with our partners at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office to take down a group of Colombian nationals committing residential burglaries, targeting the homes and apartments of business owners while they are at work. We believe they are responsible for a series of residential burglaries in Osceola and Orange County. Taking down this group required extensive investigation, surveillance, and teamwork.
On February 21, 2025, a group of suspects drove into an apartment complex near Universal Boulevard and Sand Lake Road, kicked in the door of an apartment, and burglarized the residence. Detectives followed that group, and they were apprehended at an apartment complex near Vineland and Conroy Roads. In all, five suspects were arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief, Grand Theft Third Degree, and Burglary of a Dwelling.
Although they have been arrested in this one case, we anticipate additional charges in other burglaries. It was discovered at the jail that two of the suspects had ICE deportation warrants, and we are working with ICE to determine whether state immigration charges are warranted.
Sheriff Mina, for the sake of transparency and public interest, all emails related to immigration enforcement should be published on the agency’s website. Given the significant public importance of this issue, requiring individuals to submit separate public records requests places an unnecessary burden on both the public and OCSO Records Management.
A proactive release of these records would enhance efficiency and ensure broader access to this critical information.
