In a significant immigration enforcement initiative, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with Florida law enforcement agencies, arrested 780 individuals residing illegally in the United States during a four-day operation that was dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave.”
The effort marked a first-of-its-kind partnership utilizing ICE’s 287(g) authority, which empowers state and local law enforcement officers to perform immigration enforcement functions.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons highlighted the operation’s uniqueness, stating, “We brought a ‘whole-of-government’ approach with cooperative jurisdictions that want to help ICE secure communities and remove public safety threats.”
The operation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, working alongside state troopers, local police officers, and county sheriffs.
“Operation Tidal Wave is an example of Florida and DHS partnering to deliver big results on immigration enforcement and deportations,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Among those arrested, 275 individuals had final orders of removal, allowing for their expedited deportation. ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan indicated that such partnerships are expanding nationwide, with 428 new 287(g) agreements signed since the beginning of the current administration—a 371% increase.
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