(STUART, FLORIDA) State and federal officers arrested 152 people in a weeklong immigration sweep across Florida’s Treasure Coast, officials confirmed, sparking protests and legal questions about who was targeted and how the operation was carried out.
The enforcement push, led by the Florida Highway Patrol in coordination with federal immigration agencies, ran from October 19–25, 2025, and focused on neighborhoods in and around Stuart, Fort Pierce, and other communities along the coast. According to officials, the joint operation between the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Border Patrol was designed to locate people with pending deportation orders or past criminal convictions.
Scale, location, and immediate impact
The sweep contributed to more than 400 immigration arrests in Martin County since early August and 152 arrests statewide between October 19 and 25. That level of enforcement has drawn sharp criticism from lawyers, activists, and families who say long‑time residents were swept up along with people accused of crimes.
Martin County has become one of Florida’s busiest areas for immigration enforcement this year, recording the third‑highest number of immigration arrests in the state, according to local records. To handle the flow of detainees, ICE set up a temporary processing center at 3500 SE Commerce Avenue in Stuart, where buses and vans were seen moving in and out throughout the week.
Residents in several Treasure Coast neighborhoods awoke to an unusually heavy law‑enforcement presence during the operation. Witnesses reported at least 12 state trooper vehicles and two helicopters in the area. Officers wearing masks and carrying weapons moved through residential streets in Stuart’s Golden Gate area and along Southeast Durand Avenue, stopping cars, checking identification, and in some cases entering apartment complexes.
Some families said they stayed inside for hours, afraid to go to work, drive their children to school, or even open the door when officers knocked.
Detentions, legal status questions, and legal response
At least four legal U.S.🇺🇸 residents were among those detained during the October 19–25, 2025 operation, according to immigration attorneys in the region. That has raised questions about the accuracy of enforcement lists and the checks used in the field.
Diego Gomez, an immigration lawyer based in West Palm Beach who represents several Treasure Coast families, said many of his clients had clean criminal histories and had lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for more than a decade.
“These are people working, paying taxes, raising U.S. citizen children, and going through legal steps to fix their status,” Gomez said. “Instead of giving them a chance to finish their cases, officers are taking them away in front of their families.”
In a written statement, ICE said the Treasure Coast operation was “highly targeted” and aimed at “criminal aliens and immigration violators.” The agency said it prioritized people with prior criminal convictions, such as:
- Driving under the influence
- Drug offenses
- Domestic violence cases
“ICE focuses enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety, and border security,” the statement said, adding that the agency “does not arrest U.S. citizens” and follows federal law and its own policies during field operations.
That assurance has done little to calm critics on the Treasure Coast, who point to the arrests of legal residents and the scale of the raids as signs that the October sweep went too far.
Errors, data concerns, and community reaction
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, large joint operations like this one can lead to more errors, especially when state troopers and federal agents rely on old databases or incomplete records to decide who to stop and detain.
Local groups organized nightly gatherings outside the temporary ICE site in Stuart after news of the arrests spread. Dozens of people held candles, chanted, and demanded that officers release those with pending legal cases.
On Wednesday night, 23‑year‑old Samuel Antonio Rubio‑Facio of Stuart was arrested during a protest outside the facility and charged with battery on a law‑enforcement officer and disorderly conduct. Witnesses said Rubio‑Facio had been helping guide traffic and speak with families when a confrontation broke out between demonstrators and officers near the entrance.
Fort Pierce activists have called for peaceful protests every Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m., saying they want to keep attention on those still being held and on the role of the Florida Highway Patrol in the sweeps.
Community impact and broader concerns
For many immigrant families on the Treasure Coast, the raids have revived memories of earlier enforcement drives and created fresh fear about routine activities. Reported community effects include:
- Parents questioning whether it is safe to send children to school if the parents lack legal status
- People avoiding routine doctor visits or government offices for fear of encountering officers
- Reduced willingness to report accidents or crimes because drivers fear immigration-related consequences
Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol have said little in public beyond confirming their role in the joint operation. The agency, which normally focuses on traffic safety and highway patrol duties, has increasingly partnered with federal immigration authorities—especially in coastal regions and along major interstates.
Federal officials argue such partnerships allow agents to reach people who might not come into contact with immigration agents at airports or border crossings. Civil‑rights groups counter that using troopers in immigration work can blur the line between traffic enforcement and federal immigration law.
How to file complaints and next steps for families
The Department of Homeland Security says people who believe their rights were violated during an immigration arrest can file complaints through its Civil Rights and Civil Liberties office. Detailed information on ICE enforcement policies is available on the agency’s website at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
For now, families on the Treasure Coast are waiting to see what happens to loved ones taken during the October 19–25, 2025 operation. Immigration judges are reviewing cases while lawyers race to gather documents, court records, and proof of community ties.
Many families say they feel caught between long‑promised reforms to the immigration system and the reality of stepped‑up enforcement on their streets, where a simple traffic stop can lead to detention.
Key numbers at a glance
| Item | Number / Date |
|---|---|
| Statewide arrests during sweep | 152 |
| Martin County arrests since early August | 400+ |
| Operation dates | October 19–25, 2025 |
| Temporary ICE processing center | 3500 SE Commerce Avenue, Stuart |
| Reported state trooper vehicles | 12 |
| Reported helicopters | 2 |
| Arrests of legal U.S. residents reported by attorneys | At least 4 |
If you or someone you know was affected by this operation, consider contacting an immigration attorney, local legal aid organizations, or the DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties office for guidance on filing complaints and next legal steps.
From October 19–25, 2025, a joint operation by the Florida Highway Patrol, ICE, HSI and Border Patrol swept neighborhoods on the Treasure Coast, arresting 152 people statewide and contributing to over 400 Martin County arrests since August. A temporary ICE processing center operated in Stuart. Lawyers reported at least four legal residents detained, prompting protests and calls for transparency. Critics cite potential database errors and heavy enforcement in residential areas while families pursue legal remedies.
