Three sweeping law enforcement operations across Florida have culminated in hundreds of arrests targeting repeat immigration violators, criminal undocumented residents, and high-risk situations, state officials announced Friday in Davie.
The multi-agency crackdown, which paired Florida law enforcement with federal agencies, pushed the state’s total immigration-related arrests to nearly 25,000 since its large-scale enforcement push began. According to state data, a single week of “Operation Tidal Wave” alone yielded more than 1,100 arrests—marking the highest one-week total ever recorded by a single state.
“Florida will continue to use every available resource to identify dangerous individuals, support federal immigration enforcement, and keep our citizens safe,” Governor Ron DeSantis said during the announcement. “No state has moved faster or done more to combat illegal immigration than Florida, and we will continue to lead the charge in protecting our communities.”
Florida currently leads the United States in federal 287(g) program deputizations, which allow local officers to enforce federal immigration law. The state’s effort includes participation from multiple state agencies and all 67 county sheriffs.
“We are a law-and-order state, and Florida is leading the nation in immigration enforcement. Criminal illegal aliens who threaten our communities have no place here,” said Anthony Coker, Director of the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement.
The state’s briefing detailed the specific outcomes of three distinct initiatives:
Operation Sandhill Sentinel Concentrated in South Florida, this operation pooled resources from the Florida Highway Patrol, Broward Sheriff’s Office, ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida National Guard, and the Florida State Guard.
The joint effort resulted in 250 arrests. Officials stated the targets included individuals with final orders of removal and those with criminal records involving domestic violence, assault, DUI, and narcotics offenses. Among the cases highlighted were a Mexican national arrested for illegally reentering the U.S. for the fifth time, and a Honduran national with pending aggravated stalking and domestic violence charges who had been at large on electronic monitoring.
Operation LOCATE Led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this intelligence-driven mission was designed to track down unaccompanied migrant children who entered the U.S. during previous border surges and had fallen out of contact with authorities.
Investigators tracked down or verified the locations of more than 400 children inside and outside of Florida. Authorities noted the checks successfully verified safety conditions while uncovering scattered cases involving human trafficking concerns and missing children.
“FDLE will continue to conduct operations that advance our mission to promote public safety and strengthen domestic security in Florida,” FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said. “Our top priority is protecting our citizens and visitors while safeguarding the welfare of our most vulnerable.”
Operation Criminal Return This 10-day statewide sweep, conducted by FDLE and ICE, specifically targeted undocumented individuals with existing severe criminal histories, including registered sex offenders, sexual predators, and career criminals.
The initiative led to 230 arrests across Florida, capturing convicted felons, a drug trafficker, and individuals with prior murder convictions.
Dave Kerner, Executive Director of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, emphasized that the state’s collaborative approach is meant to send a decisive message. “By working hand-in-hand with our federal, state, and local partners, we are removing individuals who have repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for our laws and the safety of our communities,” Kerner said.
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