Key Takeaways
• Operation Shield launched March 2025, leading to rapid detentions in Brevard County with federal-local cooperation.
• Largest Florida operation in April 2025 arrested 1,120 criminal aliens from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Venezuela.
• Florida expanded 287(g), training 35 Brevard officers for immigration enforcement roles within local law enforcement.
Florida’s Immigration Crackdown: Operation Shield and the Surge in Brevard County
In early 2025, Florida became the center of a sweeping immigration enforcement campaign, with Brevard County standing out as a key location for these actions. Local, state, and federal agencies have joined forces in a series of operations that have led to a sharp rise in detentions and deportations. This has sparked concern among immigration attorneys, families, and advocacy groups, who worry about the effects on communities and the rights of those caught up in these efforts.
Who is involved? Local law enforcement, led by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, is working closely with federal agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
What is happening? A new initiative called Operation Shield has been launched, resulting in rapid detentions of undocumented individuals and expanded cooperation between local and federal authorities.
When did this start? The most recent surge began in March 2025, with Operation Shield’s launch, and continued with a massive statewide operation in April 2025.
Where is the focus? While the entire state is involved, Brevard County has become a focal point, with the sheriff’s office taking a leading role.
Why is this happening? Florida’s leaders, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have made immigration enforcement a top priority, aiming to crack down on undocumented immigration and align closely with federal policies.
How is it being done? Through new laws, expanded programs like 287(g), and large-scale operations involving multiple agencies.
Let’s break down what these changes mean for Florida, especially for people living in Brevard County, and what the broader impacts might be.
Operation Shield: A New Era of Local-Federal Cooperation
In March 2025, Sheriff Wayne Ivey of Brevard County announced the launch of Operation Shield—short for Sheriff’s Homeland Immigration Enforcement and Lawful Detention. This program is designed to let the sheriff’s office work hand-in-hand with federal immigration authorities. Within just one hour of starting Operation Shield, seven undocumented people were detained in Brevard County and sent to detention centers.
Key features of Operation Shield:
– Close cooperation with ICE, DHS, CBP, Florida Highway Patrol, and other local agencies.
– Focus on identifying, detaining, and deporting people living in the county without legal status.
– Sheriff Ivey’s message: He argues that the effects of illegal immigration reach every community, not just border areas.
Sheriff Ivey has made it clear that his department will not only support but actively participate in federal immigration enforcement. This marks a shift from past practices, where local agencies sometimes played a smaller role.
Statewide Expansion: The Largest Joint Immigration Operation in Florida History
Operation Shield is just one part of a much larger effort. From April 21 to April 26, 2025, Florida saw what officials called the largest joint immigration operation in state history. This week-long campaign led to 1,120 arrests of people described as “criminal aliens.”
Details from the April operation:
– 63% of those arrested had previous criminal arrests or convictions.
– 378 had final orders of removal from immigration judges.
– Some had alleged ties to gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.
– People arrested came from many countries, including:
– Guatemala: 437
– Mexico: 280
– Honduras: 153
– Venezuela: 48
– El Salvador: 24
– Other countries: 178
This operation involved close coordination between ICE, DHS, CBP, and Florida state authorities. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these joint actions represent a new level of cooperation and intensity in Florida’s approach to immigration enforcement.
The 287(g) Program: Local Officers Take on Federal Roles
A major part of Florida’s new strategy is expanding the 287(g) program. This program lets ICE train and authorize local law enforcement officers to carry out certain immigration enforcement tasks. Florida now has more 287(g) partnerships than any other state.
In Brevard County:
– Sheriff Ivey announced that 35 officers from his department will get special training to act as extensions of ICE and Homeland Security.
– These officers will come from different parts of the sheriff’s office, including patrol, corrections, investigations, analysis, and even agriculture and marine units.
What does this mean? Local officers will have the power to check immigration status, detain people for immigration violations, and help with deportations. This blurs the line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement.
For more information about the 287(g) program and how it works, you can visit the official ICE 287(g) program page.
New Laws and Policies: Florida’s Legislative Push
In January 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis called a special legislative session to address immigration. By February, lawmakers approved a sweeping plan that included:
- Ending in-state college tuition for undocumented students: This means higher education will become much more expensive for these students.
- Requiring all law enforcement agencies to join the 287(g) program: Every police department in Florida must now help enforce federal immigration laws.
- Expanding the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program: This program moves undocumented people out of Florida.
- Voter registration verification: New rules require stricter checks on who can register to vote.
- Identity checks for money transfers: People sending money abroad must now prove their identity.
- Tougher penalties for false statements about voting: Undocumented people who lie about their status when voting face harsher punishment.
- Making illegal entry a state crime: Entering the United States 🇺🇸 without permission is now a crime under Florida law, not just federal law.
- Presuming undocumented people are flight risks: This makes it harder for them to get bail if arrested.
- Expanding gang laws: The definition of a gang now includes some Venezuelan street gangs.
These changes are some of the strictest in the country and are meant to make Florida a leader in immigration enforcement.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement: More Arrests, More Countries
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has also stepped up its efforts. In just two weeks in March 2025, FDLE reported arresting 67 undocumented individuals across the state. These people came from a wide range of countries, including the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada 🇨🇦, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Russia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela.
Among those arrested:
– 2 had convictions for murder or homicide
– 2 had convictions for sexual battery or child molestation
– 6 had convictions for theft or burglary
– 6 had convictions for illegally re-entering the United States 🇺🇸 after being deported
– 4 had convictions for resisting or obstructing law enforcement
– 5 had convictions for drug possession
– 6 had convictions for battery
– 6 had convictions for driving under the influence
Four people were suspected of ties to criminal groups, including the Russian Mafia and Tren de Aragua.
Community Response: Fear, Protests, and Uncertainty
Not everyone supports these tough new measures. In late January 2025, a large group gathered near Lake Eola in downtown Orlando to protest the new laws. The event, called “We March,” drew people worried about the impact on families, students, and workers.
Concerns raised by opponents:
– Family separations: Many fear that parents and children will be split up if someone is detained or deported.
– Loss of in-state tuition: Undocumented students will face much higher college costs, making education less accessible.
– Economic impact: Industries like agriculture, construction, and hospitality rely on immigrant workers. Tougher laws could hurt these businesses.
– Trust in law enforcement: Some worry that immigrants will be afraid to report crimes or cooperate with police, making communities less safe.
One protester said, “My entire family is Colombian and even though they’ve done everything right, everyone is scared.” This feeling of fear and uncertainty is common among immigrant families in Florida.
Detention Numbers: A Growing Population
According to the latest data from TRAC Immigration, as of May 4, 2025, ICE is holding 49,005 people in detention across the United States 🇺🇸. Of these, 21,250 (43.4%) are in ICE detention centers. While there are no exact numbers for Florida, the state’s increased enforcement likely means more people are being held in local facilities.
Detention can last for weeks or even months, and many people face long waits for their cases to be heard. This puts stress on families and communities, especially when breadwinners or parents are detained.
Governor DeSantis’s Position: “Tip of the Spear”
Governor Ron DeSantis has made it clear that he wants Florida to lead the country in immigration enforcement. After the big April operation, he said, “Florida is proud to work closely with the Trump administration and help deliver on the 2024 mandate from America that our borders be secured and our immigration laws be followed. We will continue to engage in broad interior enforcement efforts.”
He has also criticized cities that don’t fully cooperate with immigration enforcement, saying, “Not everyone necessarily wants to do that in every city in Florida. But we’re going to say, ‘yeah, not only can you not be a sanctuary city, you have an affirmative obligation to step up and help.’”
What Does This Mean for Immigrants, Families, and Employers?
For immigrants: The risk of detention and deportation is higher than ever, especially in places like Brevard County. Even people with no criminal record can be caught up in these operations. Those with final orders of removal or past convictions are at even greater risk.
For families: There is growing fear of separation. Children may come home to find a parent missing. Families are making emergency plans in case someone is detained.
For students: Losing in-state tuition means many undocumented students may have to drop out or take on huge debt.
For employers: Businesses that rely on immigrant labor may struggle to find workers. Some may face penalties if found to be employing undocumented people.
For communities: Trust in law enforcement may decline if people are afraid to report crimes or cooperate with police. This can make everyone less safe.
What Should You Do If You’re Affected?
- Know your rights: Everyone in the United States 🇺🇸 has certain rights, regardless of immigration status. You have the right to remain silent and to ask for a lawyer if detained.
- Have a plan: Families should talk about what to do if someone is detained. This includes having emergency contacts and copies of important documents.
- Stay informed: Laws and policies are changing quickly. Check official sources like U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for updates.
- Seek legal help: If you or a loved one is detained, contact an immigration attorney as soon as possible. They can help you understand your options and represent you in court.
Conclusion: A State at a Crossroads
Florida’s new approach to immigration enforcement, led by programs like Operation Shield in Brevard County, marks a major shift in how the state deals with undocumented immigrants. With expanded powers for local law enforcement, tougher laws, and large-scale operations, the risks for immigrants are higher than ever.
At the same time, these changes have sparked protests and raised concerns about family separation, access to education, and the impact on local economies. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the situation in Florida is being watched closely by other states and by national leaders.
For those living in Florida—especially in places like Brevard County—the best advice is to stay informed, know your rights, and seek help if needed. The landscape is changing quickly, and the decisions made now will shape the future for thousands of families, students, and workers across the state.
Learn Today
Operation Shield → A 2025 Florida program enabling local sheriff’s offices to cooperate with federal immigration agencies for enforcement.
287(g) program → Federal program allowing ICE to train local officers for immigration enforcement within their jurisdictions.
ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and deportations.
Detention centers → Facilities where undocumented immigrants are held during immigration processing or removal procedures.
Deportation → The formal removal of an undocumented immigrant from the United States by government authorities.
This Article in a Nutshell
Florida’s new Operation Shield marks intensified immigration enforcement collaboration in Brevard County, sparking arrests, protests, and stricter laws in 2025. These actions increase risks for undocumented immigrants while raising concerns among communities and advocates about family separations and legal impacts.
— By VisaVerge.com
