(The Center Square) – A week-long operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state and local law enforcement agencies in Florida has arrested 1,120 people suspected of illegally entering the country, the most in the agency’s history in one state.
Operation Tidal Wave lasted from April 21 through Saturday. There were 378 with final orders of removal. The rest will be in ICE custody before they go before an immigration judge or pending travel arrangements for deportation.
Some of the arrests included members of several violent gangs such as MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Brown Pride Aztecas, Barrio Azteca, Surenos (sur-13) and 18th Street Gang.
Of the arrests, 437 came from Guatemala, 280 from Mexico, 153 from Honduras, 48 from Venezuela, 24 from El Salvador and from 178 other nations.
“Last week’s operational success of arresting more than 1,100 criminal illegal aliens was truly a collaborative whole-of-government effort by our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Florida,” ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan said in a release. “Every day, our officers take to the streets and put their lives on the line to apprehend and remove dangerous criminal aliens, transnational gang members and foreign fugitives who have illegally entered the U.S. We are united in our determination to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system and enhance public safety for all Americans.”
On Feb. 13, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed several immigration enforcement bills, including one that codified 287(g) partnerships between state, local and federal agencies specifically for immigration enforcement.
These partnerships allow ICE to delegate specified immigration officer functions to state and local law enforcement officials under the agency’s direction and supervision.
“I’ve insisted that Florida be the tip of the spear when it comes to state support of federal immigration enforcement,” said DeSantis in a news release. “The success of Operation Tidal Wave is proof of our commitment. 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.”
According to state and federal officials, field offices identified priority targets for arrest with state, local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Among the federal law enforcement agencies working in Operation Tidal Wave were ICE Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms along with the U.S. Marshals Service.
“Dangerous criminals have no place in our country,” said Miami Sector Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Dinise in a news release. “We will apply CBP’s collective intelligence and operational capabilities to target those here illegally who endanger our citizens and the American way of life. Collaborative enforcement efforts such as Operation Tidal Wave, with our DHS and state of Florida law enforcement partners, leverages each of our unique authorities to protect against threats.
“We look forward to continuing the vital partnership with the state of Florida as we all work toward our shared goal of keeping our communities safe and our nation secure.”
In addition to state law enforcement agents from Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Commission, the sheriff’s offices in Alachua, Baker, Brandford, Brevard, Clay, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Orange, Pinellas, St, John’s, Sumter and Volusia counties also provided assistance during the operation.
