As of Saturday, April 26, 2025, US’s ICE division (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has arrested and possibly deported 800 more undocumented immigrants within the state of Florida in the duration of four days.
Working with government agencies such as ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement has been arresting immigrants under the 287 program, which allows any officer trained by ICE to arrest immigrants in accordance to some immigration laws. Florida leaders have stated that if an officer were to refuse to cooperate with ongoing operations, they would have to discontinue their occupation. Different state agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida State Guard, the Florida Department of Agricultural Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and multiple Florida University Campus police are all taking a part in encouraging and enforcing immigration laws.
On Saturday, ICE called the joint operation a “highly successful” and a “massive, multi-agency crackdown” as 800 undocumented people were arrested. “[It’s] a first of-its-kind of partnership between state and federal partners” the agency said. Florida Governor, Ron Desantis seems to be thrilled about the success of the operation. “[This is] an example of FL and (the Department of Homeland Security) partnering to deliver big results on immigration enforcement and deportations,” he wrote on X. “Florida is leading the nation in active cooperation with the Trump administration for immigration enforcement and deportation operations!” The Department of Homeland Security praised the results as “a preview of what is to come around the country: large scale operations that employ our state and local law enforcement partners to get criminal illegal aliens off our streets”.
Locals, however, seem to be feeling the negative affects a lot more. Multiple people have already been arrested for harboring illegal immigrants in their homes. Multiple local’s job security has also been threatened if they show any sign of incompliance. City Attorney, Lorenzo Cobiella said “We’re being mandated by the state to take certain actions and if we don’t, we’re being threatened with criminal penalties. Passing this is painful for all of us. We’re all immigrants … we all have families that derive from different places where, right now, there’s great suffering.”
