ICE Operation in Florida leads to 1,120 arrests over six days

Key Takeaways

• Operation Tidal Wave led to 1,120 arrests in Florida between April 21–26, 2025, the largest single-state ICE action yet.
• About 63% of those arrested had prior criminal records; 378 had final removal orders or had previously reentered after deportation.
• All 67 Florida counties participated using the 287(g) federal-local partnership, involving over 250 officers and National Guard members.

In late April 2025, the United States 🇺🇸 government carried out the largest single-state immigration enforcement sweep to date. Called Operation Tidal Wave, this ICE operation in Florida 🇺🇸 led to the arrest of 1,120 people accused of lacking legal status in the country. For Floridians, immigrant communities, and government officials, this marked not only a major policy step, but also sparked debates about public safety and fairness in law enforcement. As reported by VisaVerge.com, this event offered a close look at how immigration policy is enforced on the ground and raised questions about the impacts—both direct and long-term—on everyone involved.

Unpacking Operation Tidal Wave

Scope and Planning

Between April 21 and April 26, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—often called ICE—worked together with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Florida Highway Patrol, all 67 county sheriff’s offices, and local police. More than 250 local officers and National Guard troops joined the effort. This kind of scale had never been seen in Florida 🇺🇸 before.

A key tool for the operation was the 287(g) program. This program gives local police the go-ahead, under ICE’s control, to perform some federal immigration duties, like checking the immigration status of people in their jails or during certain stops. By April 2025, every sheriff’s office in Florida’s 67 counties had joined the 287(g) partnership, meaning local officers could work with ICE across the whole state.

Scope in Numbers

• 1,120 people arrested in just six days.
• Over 250 officers and National Guard members involved.
• Every county sheriff’s office in Florida participating under 287(g).

This sweep set a new record for the largest state-wide immigration operation conducted by ICE in just one week.

Who Was Arrested?

The 1,120 arrests covered people from a range of backgrounds. Some had been living in the United States 🇺🇸 for years. Others may have entered more recently.

Here’s a breakdown of the main countries of origin for those arrested:

• Guatemala 🇬🇹: 437
• Mexico 🇲🇽: 280
• Honduras 🇭🇳: 153
• Venezuela 🇻🇪: 48
• El Salvador 🇸🇻: 24
• Other countries: 178

This shows that many arrested people came from parts of Central and South America. Some fled tough situations back home, hoping to find safety and better chances in the United States 🇺🇸. The rest came from more than a dozen other countries.

Criminal History Profile

ICE shared that about 63% had a criminal past. This means nearly two out of every three people arrested had been previously arrested or had criminal convictions. The types of crimes listed include:

• Aggravated assault
• Kidnapping
• Murder convictions
• Sex offenses
• Gang ties (for example, MS-13, and other violent gangs)
• Fugitive status—meaning other law enforcement was looking for them

According to official documents, at least 378 of the 1,120 had final removal orders. This means an immigration judge had already decided they should leave the United States 🇺🇸. Some had already been deported but returned without permission.

For those with these strong records or outstanding removal orders, ICE pushed for immediate deportation. Others stayed in detention while judges decided their next steps or while the agency arranged travel documents.

How the Operation Unfolded

State and Federal Teamwork

Bringing together so many law enforcement agencies was not simple. The Florida Highway Patrol played a big role, and National Guard troops supported local law enforcement. ICE always led the operation, but the 287(g) program allowed local police to take on parts of the job—checking immigration status, making arrests, and sometimes helping in court.

This local-federal teamwork is now seen as a model by many officials and could guide future sweeps in other states, too.

Who Was Targeted?

While the sweep went after anyone lacking legal status, it focused mostly on people with criminal records or suspected ties to violent crime. Authorities said they focused on keeping communities safe from gangs, known criminals, and those they called “threats to public safety.”

Groups and individuals included in the sweep:

• People with final removal orders
• People who had returned after being deported before
• People with criminal convictions (aggravated assault, sex crimes, murder, kidnapping, etc.)
• People suspected of gang involvement (e.g., MS-13, Tren de Aragua)

The focus, ICE said, was on “criminal aliens.” However, not everyone arrested had a criminal background.

Legal Process for Those Arrested

Those caught with final removal orders or who had been deported before were sent home without waiting for months of hearings. Others remained in ICE custody while their legal cases played out. Some waited for travel papers or flights to their home countries.

The U.S. immigration system allows people to have hearings before an immigration judge if they face removal. For more information on how this works, readers can review the steps for removal proceedings on the official ICE Detention and Removal page.

Impact Across Communities

This ICE operation in Florida 🇺🇸 had different effects on various groups:

• For immigrant communities: Some lived in fear during the sweep, worried about arrests on their way to work or school. Others avoided reporting crime or going out, worried police would ask about their immigration status.
• For local police: Some departments felt they could keep their communities safer. Others worried that trust with the public would slip if people feared calling for help.
• For state and federal government: The successful arrest figures were hailed as proof that close local-federal work could deliver results in enforcing immigration law.

Political and Social Reactions

Political Leaders Respond

Governor Ron DeSantis publicly praised the outcome. He called Operation Tidal Wave proof that “Florida is leading the fight” on interior immigration enforcement. In his words, the operation signaled “the United States is serious about enforcing its immigration laws” under President Trump.

Governor DeSantis also hinted at more planned steps:

• Setting up new migrant detention centers across Florida 🇺🇸
• Giving immigration enforcement power to more agencies, not just police—such as certain regulatory offices

For him and supporters, these moves would help stop illegal immigration and keep Floridians safe.

Critics Speak Out

But not everyone agreed. Some immigrant advocates and community leaders raised concerns. They warned that when local police focus too much on immigration enforcement:

• People may be less likely to report crimes or help police solve cases
• Community trust can weaken
• Some fear racial profiling—where people are questioned or stopped because of how they look or where they’re from

Civil rights groups also worry about due process. This means making sure everyone gets a fair hearing in court and is not deported by mistake.

Changes in State Immigration Law

Operation Tidal Wave happened after new state laws increased penalties for undocumented immigrants and gave police more power to question people about their status. With all counties now committed to 287(g), the environment for immigrants in Florida 🇺🇸 changed quickly.

These new laws were celebrated by some and criticized by others. The debate shows how deeply people feel about immigration policy—what is fair, what keeps communities safe, and how best to treat newcomers.

Long-Term Impact and National Implications

A New Model for Immigration Enforcement?

ICE leaders and state officials call the sweep a blueprint for future efforts. The widespread use of the 287(g) deal means other states may now try similar operations. With every Florida 🇺🇸 county sheriff’s office taking part, ICE could reach into even smaller towns and rural areas—something never done before.

Increased Fear in Local Communities

Some residents say they now feel less safe, even if they have legal status. The fear is not just about deportation—it’s also about how relationships between families, police, and local institutions may be affected. For example:

• Kids may skip school, afraid their parents will be arrested
• Crime reports might drop, as people avoid any contact with police
• Workers may not show up for jobs requiring travel through checkpoints

In this way, a single operation can affect an entire community, reaching far beyond those actually arrested.

Debates Over the 287(g) Program

Supporters of 287(g) say it helps get dangerous criminals off the street. Critics say it can sweep up people with only minor offenses, traffic issues, or those simply seeking better lives. Some believe local police should focus on crime, not immigration cases—worrying that trust and police-community relations drop when people see officers as an arm of ICE.

The debate over 287(g) and joint enforcement shows no sign of slowing down. For some, the program is a solution. For others, it brings a new set of problems.

Key Facts Table

This summary shows the scale and focus of the operation. With most arrests involving people from Central America and two-thirds already known to police or courts, the sweep aimed to focus resources on what officials called the “highest threats.”

What Happens Next?

For Those Arrested

Many arrested will be quickly deported, especially if an immigration judge already issued a final removal order or if the person already returned after a prior deportation. Others will go through a longer legal process, waiting in detention centers for their cases to move through immigration courts. Those without strong legal options—or citizenship in another country—are likely to be sent home when travel arrangements can be made.

For Florida Immigration Policy

With officials promising more sweeps and possibly new detention centers, Florida 🇺🇸 is expected to remain at the center of immigration enforcement debates.

• More state agencies may receive authority to help ICE
• New detention facilities could open
• Future sweeps may focus on additional counties or expand to focus on groups beyond those with serious records

National Ripple Effects

Because Operation Tidal Wave was the largest of its kind, it may influence how other states and federal agencies plan similar actions in the future. Other states may look to copy Florida’s 🇺🇸 model—mixing strong state support, the 287(g) program, and partnerships between different police forces.

Ongoing Concerns and Next Steps

As these policy changes play out, several important questions remain:

1. Will close ties between local and federal officers make communities safer, or will they make it harder for police to connect with residents?
2. How will Florida 🇺🇸 balance public safety with treating all residents fairly and respectfully?
3. Will courts or lawmakers step in to review the expanded use of 287(g) agreements?

People with questions about their legal status or wanting to understand immigration court proceedings can find official information at the ICE Detention and Removal webpage.

Operation Tidal Wave, the major ICE operation in Florida, showed how quickly the enforcement landscape can change. With 1,120 arrests in less than a week, the event set a new standard for what is possible when federal and local forces work closely together.

For immigrant families, local police, and voters across Florida 🇺🇸, the aftershocks from this one week are likely to last for years to come—sparking further debate and affecting how both residents and leaders talk about and handle immigration policy in the United States 🇺🇸.

Learn Today

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration and customs laws, including detaining and deporting unauthorized immigrants.
287(g) Program → A program allowing local law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE and carry out certain federal immigration enforcement duties.
Final Removal Order → A court-issued order stating that a person must be deported from the United States after legal proceedings.
Aggravated Assault → A serious violent crime involving an attack or threat of attack with the intent to cause severe injury.
Tren de Aragua → A violent criminal gang, originally from Venezuela, known for involvement in organized crime and cross-border activities.

This Article in a Nutshell

Operation Tidal Wave in April 2025 marked Florida’s largest immigration sweep, with ICE and local agencies arresting 1,120 people. The operation targeted those with criminal records and final removal orders. This sweeping enforcement spurred major debate over public safety, fairness, and the future of federal and local immigration cooperation.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• Florida makes illegal entry a crime under new DeSantis law
• Florida Attorney General could face contempt sanctions over immigration law
• Federal judge blocks local police from enforcing Florida immigration law
• Florida Highway Patrol faces lawsuit over wrongful arrest under new law
• ICE arrests nearly 800 migrants in Florida’s Operation Tidal Wave