Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd walked back claims about federal warrants after his deputies arrested a mother and daughter at a Florida hospital on immigration detainers, with his office later apologizing for the confusion over legal distinctions that matter in law enforcement procedures.

From Warrants to Detainers: The Confusion

Sheriff Judd initially told reporters the women had federal warrants and federal holds when defending his deputies’ actions at HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital. But when pressed repeatedly by Channel 9 to confirm whether actual warrants existed, Judd changed his description to ICE hold, possible removal order, or detention hold. He declined to clarify further during the Thursday press conference. A spokesperson later confirmed there was no ICE warrant and no removal order, only immigration detainers for both women. The office apologized for the confusion.

The distinction carries legal weight. Immigration detainers are requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement asking local law enforcement to hold someone for up to 48 hours, but they differ significantly from criminal warrants issued by judges. Federal courts have ruled that detainers alone do not provide probable cause for arrest, a fact that makes the terminology critically important.

Sheriff Defends Deputies’ Actions

Despite the confusion over legal terms, Judd expressed strong support for his deputies’ conduct. He stated he not only approved but was excited about their actions, saying the women were not treated any differently than United States citizens involved in a crash investigation. The sheriff explained his office runs everyone through databases to check for warrants, regardless of citizenship status, age, or other factors. The arrests occurred after the women were involved in a traffic accident and taken to the hospital.

The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the woman arrested at the Poinciana hospital faced no state charges, had no criminal background, and had no gang history. This acknowledgment contradicts Judd’s earlier statement that everyone taken into custody had been involved in a criminal complaint or was hanging out with those who were and considered collateral.

Constitutional Questions Raised

The incident raises questions about Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Legal experts have noted that cooperation with ICE detainers without proper warrants can expose local law enforcement agencies to liability. Several jurisdictions nationwide have limited cooperation with immigration detainers unless accompanied by judicial warrants. The video of the hospital arrests went viral on social media, drawing attention to how local sheriffs balance federal immigration enforcement requests with constitutional protections and community trust.