ICE Arrests Nearly 800 In Florida During Operation Tidal Wave

Miami, FL – In a collaboration between federal and state authorities, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Miami, alongside Florida law enforcement agencies, arrested nearly 800 undocumented immigrants during the first four days of “Operation Tidal Wave,” a large-scale, multi-agency immigration enforcement initiative.

The operation, which began earlier this week, marks a significant milestone in state-federal partnerships aimed at addressing illegal immigration.

ICE announced the operation on April 26, 2025, via a post on X, highlighting the success of the effort and sharing images from the field.

The photos depict law enforcement officers detaining individuals during both daytime and nighttime raids, with some suspects being handcuffed and escorted by agents wearing vests labeled “ICE” and “State Police.”

The operation involved coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Operation Tidal Wave is part of a broader initiative enabled by a February 2025 agreement between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and ICE, allowing local law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants under the 287(g) program. This program, rooted in the Immigration and Nationality Act, delegates certain immigration enforcement powers to state and local officers under ICE’s oversight.

“Florida is leading the nation in active cooperation with the Trump administration for immigration enforcement and deportation operations,” DeSantis posted on X.

Florida, the first state to officially join this effort under the Trump administration’s renewed focus on mass deportations, has been at the forefront of such policies, with DeSantis emphasizing the state’s leadership in combating illegal immigration.

“Operation Tidal Wave is an example of FL and DHS partnering to deliver big results on immigration enforcement and deportation,” DeSantis added  on X.