U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in partnership with over 200 Florida law enforcement agencies, arrested nearly 800 individuals over a four-day period in a large-scale immigration enforcement initiative called “Operation Tidal Wave.” Floria Governor Ron DeSantis praised the effort as a model for cooperation between state and federal authorities on immigration enforcement. The operation marks a significant expansion of the 287(g) Program, which enables local law enforcement to collaborate directly with ICE.
The crackdown includes participation from statewide agencies such as the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as well as campus police departments at several universities. While the state government has mandated local participation in such agreements, some local leaders and immigration advocacy groups have voiced concern, citing fears of increased community tension, reduced public policy safety, and labor shortages.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing legal action against officials accused of hindering federal immigration efforts. This includes recent federal charges against judges in Wisconsin and New Mexico for allegedly interfering in immigration-related cases.
Reference:
Tsui, Karina. Sottile, Zoe. “ICE: ‘First-of-its-kind’ operation with local law enforcement leads to nearly 800 immigrant arrests in Florida” CNN. April 28, 2025.
