Riverview Residents Rally Against Pinellas County's Immigration Enforcement Tactics

Riverview residents voiced strong opposition to the use of county resources for immigration enforcement at a Public Safety Council meeting on September 14. The meeting followed a recent investigation that revealed the Pinellas County jail released and rebooked approximately 170 immigrants to bypass a 72-hour detention limit.

The Public Safety Council advises county leaders on jail operations, populations, and costs, though it lacks direct legal power over county decisions. Residents urged the council to take a stand against practices they view as detrimental to the community.

Linda Stoller, a member of the Speak to your Sheriff Coalition, expressed her concerns during the meeting. "I never felt at all threatened by immigrants and I haven't been by my neighbors. But I am threatened by the thought of police coordinating with ICE and literally kidnapping people out of their homes and then keeping them in our jails for days and days," Stoller said.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorized the rebookings. He also claimed he was unaware of these practices until October of last year, despite the investigation finding that the rebookings continued until July of this year. Earlier this month, a local publication reported that the Pinellas County jail received a federal waiver to hold immigrants longer than 72 hours. This information became public five days after the initial investigation was published.

Quarterly reports presented to the council showed a significant increase in ICE holdings at the Pinellas County Jail. In June 2026, the jail held 503 individuals, a rise from 343 in June 2025 and 82 in June 2024. Despite these figures and resident concerns, the Public Safety Council did not address immigration enforcement during the meeting.

Stoller expressed disappointment that the council did not acknowledge the residents' concerns. "I stayed for the whole meeting because I thought that when they looked at the report or when they had a chance to just give a comment that they would at least react to the fact that all those people..." she said, indicating a lack of response from the council.

Residents continue to monitor the situation and await further action or discussion from county officials regarding these enforcement practices.