FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2025
CONTACTS
Collier County Sheriff Contact: Media Relations Manager Karie Partington
239-252-0606 Karie.partington@colliersheriff.org
ACRU Contact: Kristen McDougal
Kristen.McDougal@theacru.org
Collier County Sheriff’s Office Honored with Defender Award for Outstanding Commitment to Upholding the Rule of Law and Protecting Citizens
Collier County, Florida/Naples — The American Constitutional Rights Union (ACRU) recognized Sheriff Rambosk and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office as the recipient of ACRU’s prestigious Defender Award on April 3 in a ceremony in Naples. This recognition is awarded to law enforcement leaders who honor their constitutional oath to protect and to serve by working cooperatively with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to protect law-abiding citizens from criminal illegal aliens.
ACRU Executive Director Lt. Col. Allen West and ACRU President Lori Roman presented the award to Sheriff Rambosk and Undersheriff Bloom and expressed their appreciation for the excellent example they are setting for other sheriffs across the nation in upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens. For full coverage of this Award Ceremony/Press Conference, including photos and video, click here.
“This law enforcement agency exemplifies what it means to be a true defender of the law,” said Col. Allen West, Executive Director of ACRU. “This award acknowledges their leadership and dedication to preserving American citizens’ rights to safety and security through their partnership with the 287(g) program. All law enforcement agencies should take note and follow this lead to fully embrace the authorization afforded to designated officers through these models. Well done,” stated Col. West.
Roman expressed her appreciation to the Collier County Commissioners who have supported the Sheriff’s Office in these endeavors and to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and Director Homan for making public safety a top priority.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Senior Counselor Keith Pearson participated in the award ceremony held at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office training facility. Pearson stated: “In his first month of office, President Trump closed the border to illegal aliens invading our country. Under the leadership of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, thousands of local law enforcement officers throughout the nation have been empowered to help the American people through ICE’s 287g program. Sheriff Rambosk and the men and women of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office have demonstrated their commitment to Making America Safe.”
According to ICE: “The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) — authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight…The 287(g) Program enhances the safety and security of our nation’s communities by allowing ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to partner with state and local law enforcement.”
“It is an honor to receive the Defender Award from the American Constitutional Rights Union in recognition of our long-standing and highly successful partnership with ICE through the 287(g) program. Protecting our communities while upholding constitutional principles is at the heart of everything we do in law enforcement,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.
For more information about the Defender Initiative and the American Constitutional Rights Union, visit theacru.org/defenders.
For more information about ICE and the 287g program, go to: Delegation of Immigration Authority Section 287(g) Immigration and Nationality Act | ICE
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American Constitutional Rights Union is a non-partisan, non-profit public policy organization dedicated to defending all Americans’ constitutionally protected civil rights.
