The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently teamed up with the state government of Florida to launch a statewide large-scale immigration enforcement operation under the code name “Operation Tidal Wave.” In less than a week, they arrested 1,120 undocumented residents, setting a record for the highest number of arrests in a single week in a state since the agency’s establishment in 2003.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, on Thursday, May 1, held a joint press conference with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials at the South Florida ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations office to announce the results of the operation. DeSantis emphasized, “We will continue to push forward with large-scale internal enforcement operations throughout the state, this is just the beginning.”
This joint enforcement operation was carried out by ICE in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies and local police departments in Florida, targeting undocumented residents with criminal records, involvement in gang activities, or those who have received final deportation orders.
ICE reported that out of the 1,120 individuals arrested, there were criminals, gang members (such as MS-13 and the Aryan Brotherhood), sex offenders, fugitives, and cases with court-ordered deportations. Among them, 437 were from Guatemala and 280 were from Mexico, making them the largest groups.
Officials stressed that the success of the operation was due to an increasing number of local police departments and state government agencies actively participating in the Trump administration’s large-scale deportation plan.
To further strengthen immigration enforcement, President Trump signed an executive order on Monday, April 28, requiring public release of a list of “sanctuary cities” that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement, and warning that criminal charges may be brought against local officials obstructing federal policies.
Currently, 517 local agencies in 39 states across the U.S. have signed cooperation agreements with ICE, with 74 agencies awaiting approval. Florida is currently the state with the closest cooperation, with all 67 counties participating. Even unconventional enforcement agencies like the Florida Lottery Bureau and the Wildlife Conservation Commission are included. Under these agreements, local police can arrest and detain individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.
Law enforcement authorities added that the “Operation Tidal Wave” primarily focused on street arrests, rather than waiting for targeted individuals to be detained for other offenses before being handed over to ICE. This proactive strategy, which had been terminated in 2014 due to protests and litigation pressure from civil rights groups, has now been restarted, indicating a shift towards more aggressive and tough immigration enforcement policies.
However, such actions have also sparked controversy. Some immigrant rights advocates point out that the operations may infringe on constitutional rights, and some of those detained have no criminal records, are seeking asylum, or hold work permits.
The state government emphasizes that they will continue to expand cooperation with federal authorities and enhance federal training for local law enforcement personnel. ICE also stated that similar large-scale operations will be carried out continuously and are not isolated incidents.
(*This article was adapted from relevant reports by the Associated Press)