Governor Ron DeSantis isn’t playing around. Florida just wrapped up a major sweep, Operation Tidal Wave, and let’s just say it’s sending a message loud and clear: America is DONE tolerating criminal migrants. Over 1,100 illegals were detained, and we’re talking serious criminals — gang members, drug dealers, and anyone who thought they could just walk into the country and get away with it.
DeSantis made it crystal clear: “The United States of America is serious about enforcing its immigration laws,” and with this operation, Florida is leading the charge. The numbers don’t lie:
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437 criminals from Guatemala
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280 from Mexico
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153 from Honduras
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48 from Venezuela
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24 from El Salvador
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And 178 from elsewhere
And let’s talk about the types of criminals Florida’s locking up. We’re talking Tren de Aragua gang members, MS-13thugs, Brown Pride Aztecas, and more. These are the worst of the worst, folks. DeSantis isn’t just catching criminals — he’s catching dangerous criminals.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took a victory lap Thursday for "Operation Tidal Wave," an illegal immigration crackdown in his state that saw 1,100 arrests in less than a week. "We're ready, willing, and able to take it to the next level."
Read more: https://t.co/pj5K99VvSO pic.twitter.com/hEMWV23aom
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) May 1, 2025
The best part? This isn’t just a one-off publicity stunt. DeSantis and his team have made it clear: this operation is the beginning of something much bigger. State Board of Immigration Enforcement Executive Director Larry Keefe said, “This is going to be a sustained, persistent effort.” In other words, Florida isn’t backing down.
Even ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan weighed in: “If you enter this country illegally, you are a criminal. You will be deported, and we’re making sure of that.”
But wait — DeSantis isn’t stopping there. He’s calling on the federal government to let the Florida National Guard step up and serve as immigration judges to speed up the process. And if they get the green light? They’ll be ready to roll out everything from apprehension to deportation. The state’s even ready to expand detention centers, so they can hold more criminals.
#OperationTidalWave shows how effective 287(g) partnerships are. We’re stronger when we work together to arrest criminal aliens.
🟡Last week’s groundbreaking Florida operation was the highest yielding weeklong operation any state has seen in ICE’s entire history.
🟡 Our… pic.twitter.com/IPwhdKB4qc
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) May 2, 2025
Florida’s also leading the way with 287(g) partnerships, which allow local law enforcement to team up with ICE and enforce immigration laws at a local level. This program has helped Florida dominate in keeping illegal migrants off the streets.
To wrap it up, DeSantis is staying true to his word: Florida’s not just a state, it’s a fortress. And with Operation Tidal Wave, the message is loud and clear: America’s borders are not a free-for-all.