Sheriff’s pick to be her No. 2 could raise eyebrows in migrant-heavy Miami-Dade
The newly announced second-in-command at the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is a man deeply rooted in Florida’s law-enforcement network and also a key figure in Florida’s strong immigration enforcement — former FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass.
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On Friday afternoon, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz informed her over 3,000 deputies that Glass was selected as undersheriff following the August retirement of Christopher Carothers, who spent over 30 years rising through the ranks of the agency, according to an email obtained by the Miami Herald.
“From my first day as sheriff, I have been deliberate about building an agency that honors its proud legacy while moving forward with greater coordination, accountability, and opportunity for our people,” Cordero-Stutz said in a statement.
Glass has been a staunch opponent of immigration and has supported the arrest of undocumented people living in Florida.
As undersheriff, Glass will be overseeing the daily operations of the entire sheriff’s office. He will be guiding deputies, enforcing and shaping agency policy and managing community outreach and connections.
Glass is no stranger to such responsibilities after serving as the top cop at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the past four and half years while leading the agency’s directives and missions. Under his watch, FDLE has been the target of activists groups’ anger as it spearheaded a wave of immigrant captures.
According to Herald reporting and other media outlets, FDLE under Glass has been far more cooperative in detaining and questioning immigrants than other local agencies as it worked to fulfill Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ wish to be a top enforcer of the Trump administration’s anti-immigration platform.
When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under President Donald Trump’s directive, reignited the 287(g) program that would effectively deputize state and local law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement, the FDLE proudly complied.
Since joining the program in July 2025, FDLE has announced the arrests of hundreds of immigrants accused of various crimes in days-long operations in which agents have collaborated with local police departments and ICE. In January, Glass’ FDLE participated in Operation Tidal Wave, the state’s largest immigration-enforcement action.
It saw more than 10,000 arrests in North and Central Florida over eight months of men and women deemed “illegal aliens” from over five South American countries.
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At the time, Glass was quoted as saying, “As Florida’s lead domestic security and investigative agency, we’ve seen firsthand how the 287(g) program improves our ability to identify and address threats to our state. Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ leadership, FDLE remains committed to supporting these operations and protecting communities across the Free State of Florida.”
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Miami-Dade County is home to one of the largest immigrant populations in Florida. The sheriff’s office, which also signed a 287(g) agreement, has been extremely careful when telling the public how the agency would participate in immigration enforcement in partnership with ICE.
Cordero-Stutz once promised that her deputies would not outright ask residents their immigration status during interactions. They would also only inform ICE or make immigration arrests if an unrelated “serious crime” or traffic stop led deputies to discover the person’s immigration status.
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Long before the ICE agreements, DeSantis zeroed in on illegal immigration in the Florida Keys in 2023 when Glass possibly skated around state rules on behalf of the governor, reports allege.
NBC News reported Glass informally waived FDLE policies so agents could fly airplanes significantly further offshore than was previously allowed to search for migrant vessels. The planes were also not exactly suited for such missions. At the time, an agency spokesperson said, “This year, FDLE leadership made a series of changes to the aviation unit to enhance safety and efficiency including addressing the concerns some of our pilots raised.”
It’s unclear if the stances of Cordero-Stutz and Glass will clash as he enters the new role. However, the sheriff emphasized in her statement she believes Glass embodies the mission of her agency and building ties with the community.
“I have come to appreciate his character, humility, sound judgment and genuine respect for the people who carry out our mission every day,” she said. “He comes to this role with a strong understanding of our agency, our responsibilities, and the community we serve, as well as established relationships with many members of our team.”
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