State and federal law enforcement converged on Key Largo on March 9, 2026, to carry out a targeted immigration enforcement sweep dubbed Operation Tidal Wave. The joint effort between the Florida Highway Patrol’s Criminal Alien Apprehension Team (CAAT) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resulted in the arrest of 15 foreign nationals from Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Authorities confirmed that every individual taken into custody during the operation had a documented criminal background. The list of prior charges and convictions associated with the group includes violent offenses such as home invasion with deadly weapons, aggravated battery, and domestic violence.
Other records revealed histories of cocaine possession, marijuana distribution, burglary, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Several of those apprehended also faced charges for prior deportation offenses and failure to appear in court.
Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, stated that the CAAT units and federal partners are focused on removing individuals who have committed crimes either domestically or abroad.
READ: ICE Detainer In Florida: Illegal Immigrant Charged In Beating Death Of 3-Year-Old Nephew
“This is what accountability looks like,” Kerner said, adding that the state will continue to take action to protect residents.
The operation relied on a close working relationship between state troopers and federal agents. Samuel Briggs, the Acting Chief Patrol Agent for the Miami Sector, described the partnership as a “force multiplier” that allows for a swifter response to community threats and border security issues.
This enforcement action is part of a broader trend in Florida’s policing strategy. Since March 2025, the Florida Highway Patrol has operated under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program.
In the year since that program began, the agency has apprehended over 9,000 individuals unlawfully present in the country, including more than 1,600 who possessed prior criminal records. The 15 individuals arrested in Key Largo remain in custody pending further legal and immigration proceedings.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
