U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 800 illegal aliens in Florida over a four-day operation dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave,” marking a significant collaboration with state and local law enforcement.
The operation, which began on April 21, targeted 780 undocumented migrants, including 275 with final removal orders, across the state.
ICE officials described the effort as a “first-of-its-kind partnership between state and federal partners,” highlighting its scale and coordination, as CNN reported.
Those arrested included a convicted murderer from Colombia, alleged MS-13 and 18th Street gang members, and a Russian with an Interpol Red Notice for vehicular manslaughter, Fox News reported.
The operation was carried out utilizing the authority of Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This program allows state and local law enforcement to be deputized to arrest those in the U.S. illegally. Operation Tidal Wave marked the first formal use of this provision.
The operation involved 230 Florida law enforcement agencies, including city police departments, operating under the 287(g) agreements, with 130 functioning under a task-force model to detain suspected undocumented migrants.
“So this is one of the first large-scale missions we’ve done like this ever,” Todd Lyons, acting Ice director, said, per Newsweek. “We brought a ‘whole … government’ approach with cooperative jurisdictions that want to help ICE secure communities in neighborhoods and remove public safety threats from our neighborhoods.”
The operation stirred debate, particularly in areas where local leaders expressed opposition. In Fort Myers, city council members initially voted against the ICE collaboration but reversed their decision after Florida’s attorney general warned they could be removed from office by the governor.
ICE’s Miami office called the operation “highly successful,” emphasizing its focus on removing individuals with final deportation orders, CNN reported.
Operation Tidal Wave concluded on April 24, but its implications will likely resonate as ICE expands partnerships under the 287(g) program. While the operation targeted those with criminal records or final removal orders, the scale of arrests has raised questions about future enforcement strategies in Florida and beyond.