Gov. DeSantis Taps Florida Lottery, Gambling Regulator to Join Migrant Crackdown

On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced that additional state agencies, such as the Florida Lottery and the Florida Gaming Commission, will collaborate with federal authorities to catch undocumented migrants. 

DeSantis spoke at a news conference alongside US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Miami to claim that Florida was outpacing the nation in the number of immigration arrests conducted within a single week. 

Approximately 1,120 “criminal aliens” were captured during a sweep referred to as “Operation Tidal Wave,” according to the governor. 

‘Environments Rich in Targets’ 

Nearly 100 state and local law enforcement agencies in Florida have been recruited into the 287(g) program, which permits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to authorize state and local law enforcement officials to implement federal immigration laws. 

DeSantis isn’t halting at that point. He desires the involvement of regulatory agencies as well. In addition to the lottery and the state gaming regulator, this will encompass the Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco, stated the governor.

"[The agencies] all operate in what we would consider target-rich environments. During their routine inspection and investigative duties, special agents are oftentimes in contact with people who may be in our country illegally,” DeSantis said. “So we think deputizing those officers in regulatory spaces is going to be another source to lead to these immigration and enforcement efforts,” he added.

Nonetheless, DeSantis was vague about how this would operate in reality and whether it would imply, for instance, that lottery participants would have to present documentation at the time of purchase when acquiring tickets. 

“I think that remains to be seen how they’re exactly they are going to do it,” he said. “I think these folks are involved in areas where they are likely going to be able to add value to what ICE and DHS are doing. So just stay tuned and see how that unfolds.”

Can Undocumented Immigrants Win Lottery? 

Undocumented migrants are not explicitly prevented from winning or claiming lottery winnings in Florida or elsewhere in the U.S., and lottery officials do not ask about a claimant’s immigration status, though this might change soon, at least in Florida. 

For major prizes, all victors must provide valid government-issued ID, like a driver's license, passport, social security number, or other official identification, which is required to confirm identity or meet tax requirements. The same applies to significant casino victories. 

Generally, any winner not holding US citizenship or unable to present the necessary documentation will have a minimum of 30% of their prize withheld for federal tax reasons — surpassing the usual 24% withholding rate — along with possible state taxes. 

At this point, they could also face deportation.