Tampa Mayor Revises Police Policies After 'Sanctuary City' Threat

Mayor Jane Castor responds to Florida Attorney General's demand to reverse 'sanctuary policies'

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:10pm

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Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has revised the city's police policies after receiving a threat from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier over the department's so-called 'sanctuary policies'. Uthmeier had claimed the policies illegally restrict how officers cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and threatened penalties including removing Castor from office if the policies were not reversed by March 31. In response, Castor said the city has now removed the language in question and will publish and distribute the updated policy immediately.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between local governments and state authorities over immigration enforcement policies. While Tampa had policies aimed at building trust with immigrant communities, the state attorney general viewed them as illegal 'sanctuary' measures. The revisions demonstrate the pressure cities can face from higher levels of government on these sensitive issues.

The details

In his initial letter, Attorney General Uthmeier claimed the Tampa Police Department was illegally restricting how officers cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), particularly by not disclosing immigration backgrounds of witnesses and victims. He said the law is clear that sanctuary policies are prohibited in Florida, and demanded the policies be reversed by March 31 or face penalties including Castor's removal from office.

  • On March 11, the Florida Attorney General sent a letter to Mayor Castor regarding the Tampa Police Department's 'sanctuary policies'.
  • Mayor Castor responded by revising the policies and removing the language of concern by March 16.

The players

Jane Castor

The Mayor of Tampa, Florida.

James Uthmeier

The Attorney General of Florida who sent the letter to Mayor Castor regarding Tampa's 'sanctuary policies'.

Tampa Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Tampa whose policies were the subject of the dispute.

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What they’re saying

“The City of Tampa has no intention of violating state or federal law. We will continue to use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law, as well as state law.”

— Jane Castor, Mayor of Tampa

“TPD ostensibly supports these policies because they do not want 'illegal aliens' to be concerned with immigration consequences by cooperating with law enforcement.”

— James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General

What’s next

The revised Tampa police policies will be published and distributed to officers immediately.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the ongoing tensions between local governments and state authorities over immigration enforcement, with cities like Tampa trying to balance public safety and community trust, while state officials like the Florida Attorney General view such policies as illegal 'sanctuary' measures.