Green Cove Springs drivers may see a Clay County deputy doing driver's licence checkd Friday.
Published on October 23, 2025 at 5:33 pm
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A local immigrant rights group is warning that driver’s license checkpoints in Clay County could be a tactic to round up immigrants.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office plans checkpoints in Green Cove Springs between 9 and 11 a.m. Friday. Drivers should be ready to show a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration and insurance card “to ensure minimal delays,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
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Rather than an immigration crackdown, the checkpoints are routine safety checks that the Sheriff’s Office has done for years, the agency said.
The Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance was not convinced. The group issued a statement Thursday saying it is “deeply concerned” about the checkpoints.
The alliance said the timing of the checkpoints is suspicious, given recent federal funding to sheriff’s offices to enforce immigration laws.
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Just Tuesday, Florida’s chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, came to St. Johns County to reimburse sheriffs for their work with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook was part of the group.
Under the 287g program, ICE deputizes law enforcement agencies to perform some immigration enforcement duties, including detaining individuals who are not legally in the United States.
In exchange, ICE covers the costs of vehicles and other equipment purchased to facilitate the agreement, as well as salaries, benefits and overtime pay for officers who are trained to perform immigration enforcement.
In Northeast Florida, the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office received $25,683; the Clay County Sheriff’s Office $606,151; the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office $94,000; Putnam County $108,384; and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office $1 million.
Immigrant warnings
The Immigrant Rights Alliance warned of the potential for racial profiling during the Clay County checkpoints.
“We stand in solidarity with all people targeted by these immigration crackdowns and racial profiling,” the alliance said. “Such policies do not enhance public safety; they destroy the trust between law enforcement and our communities, making everyone less safe. A family on their way to work or school should not be treated as suspects because of their appearance.”
Clay County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Benjamin Ryan said the purpose of the checkpoints is not to detain immigrants — it’s to verify that people operating motor vehicles have valid driver’s licenses.
“These types of checkpoints are not new and been conducted numerous times, for years,” Ryan told Jacksonville Today in an email. “To call this checkpoint racial profiling is simply false. If anything illegal comes up during it, whether it’s an outstanding warrant in county, out of county, immigration related, or anything else — it is handled as it comes in, and appropriately.”
The department did not say where the checkpoints would operate in Green Cove Springs. It also did not explain why Green Cove, which has its own police department, was selected for the checkpoints.
The Immigrant Rights Alliance advised anyone, especially immigrants, to know their rights and have a plan:
- Exercise your right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about your immigration status or place of birth. You can calmly state, “I am exercising my right to remain silent.”
- Do not open your door to anyone unless they show a warrant signed by a judge. You have the right to see the warrant.
- Have a safety plan. Memorize the phone number of a trusted friend, family member or lawyer. Ensure someone knows where you are and can care for children or dependents if you are detained.
- If you are driving, you must show your driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance if asked. Beyond that, you are not required to answer other questions.
Ryan said deputies also will educate drivers about traffic laws like safety belts and vehicle equipment. Drivers can get Sheriff’s Office updates and reminders by downloading the SaferWatch App at getsaferwatch.com, he said.
