Senator Moody and Panhandle Sheriffs Highlight Legislation to Expand Resources for Florida Law Enforcement to Combat Illegal Immigration with Federal Partners

PANAMA CITY, FL — On June 19, 2025, Senator Ashley Moody convened with Panhandle law enforcement leaders at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office to discuss her proposed Reimbursement for Immigration Partnerships with Police to Allow Local Law Enforcement Act, or RIPPLE Act. The legislation aims to expand the 287(g) program, enabling states to assist federal authorities in immigration enforcement and address what Moody describes as the "chaos" caused by the Biden administration’s border policies.

In attendance were Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews, Holmes County Sheriff John Tate, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden, Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman, Franklin County Sheriff A.J. “Tony” Smith, and Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Jason King.

Introduced on June 10, the RIPPLE Act is one of two bills Moody has proposed to strengthen immigration enforcement. It seeks to empower local law enforcement to expedite immigration processes and reverse what Moody calls "reckless and dangerous" federal policies. Her second bill, the Stop Government Abandonment and Placement Scandals (Stop GAPS) Act, addresses the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) losing track of tens of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children, many of whom were placed in unsafe situations, as reported in the Third Presentment of Florida’s Twenty-First Statewide Grand Jury.

The meeting underscored a unified push among Florida’s Panhandle sheriffs to support Moody’s legislative efforts to enhance border security and protect communities from the impacts of illegal immigration.

Watch her video explaining the Ripple Act
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=mrmX4p0Zu3s