Operation Tidal Wave: Florida and ICE Detain Over 1,100 Immigrants

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with the state of Florida, arrested 1,120 people in a one-week enforcement surge called Operation Tidal Wave which is the largest enforcement surge in a state since ICE's establishment in 2003. The operation from April 21–26, targeted undocumented immigrants who had prior criminal convictions, gang affiliations, or final orders of removal. ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan called the operation "historic," stemming from a broader coordination effort with the state of Florida through the federal 287(g) program, which gives authority for local agencies to enforce immigration law.

Among those detained nationals from Guatemala (437), Mexico (280), and Honduras (153), plus others from Venezuela, El Salvador, and Colombia. ICE claimed that apprehended persons were among gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, and people who had convictions for violent crimes such as murder and kidnapping. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave a press conference praising the operation, pledging to continue similar efforts, to "prioritize public safety", and called it, "just the beginning" of collaboration between the State and Federal policies.

Proponents of the immigrants being affected disagreed with the operation's methods, saying, among other things, that most of those detained were stopped at simple traffic stops or while they were going to a job. Others detained reportedly still had pending asylum claims or had valid work permits. Renatta Bozzetto of the Florida Immigrant Coalition accused these officials and the agency or organization that ran the operation of "terrorizing communities" and not showing that most of those detained were safety concerns. Advocates further contended that the cooperations and operation undermined trust in law enforcement agencies and could damage due process.