Florida Tops List in Trump Deportation Crackdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Florida is spearheading a massive expansion of state and local cooperation with President Trump’s mass deportation initiative, with over 500 agencies now involved nationwide. More than 800 people have been arrested in a single week through “Operation Tidal Wave,” with Florida alone contributing nearly half of all participating departments. Critics warn the move blurs lines between federal and local authority, and risks harming immigrant communities.
Trump’s Deportation Network: Quick Looks
- 506 state and local agencies now signed on
- Florida leads all states, with cooperation from all 67 counties
- Texas follows with 76 agreements, including National Guard
- New model empowers local police to arrest immigrants in communities
- Trump executive order targets “sanctuary” jurisdictions for retaliation
- ICE arrests surge with help from state highway patrol and police
- Immigration lawyers warn of constitutional violations and community fear
- Florida officials celebrate 800+ arrests in just six days
- Some arrestees had legal status or pending asylum claims
- DHS to highlight Florida’s role in joint news conference
Florida Tops List in Trump Deportation Crackdown
Deep Look
Florida Emerges as Epicenter of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown, Sparking Praise and Alarm
MIAMI — President Donald Trump’s mass deportation strategy is gaining speed, and nowhere is that more visible than in Florida. With all 67 of its counties on board, Florida now leads the country in the number of local and state agencies aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through formal enforcement agreements.
As of this week, more than 500 police departments and state agencies across 38 states are now authorized to carry out immigration-related arrests under ICE’s 287(g) partnership program. This marks a dramatic expansion from the 135 agreements in place just five months ago under the Biden administration.
Operation Tidal Wave: 800 Arrests and Counting
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a close ally of Trump on immigration, is expected to appear with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials Thursday to spotlight “Operation Tidal Wave,” a joint effort that has already netted more than 800 immigration arrests in just under a week.
State troopers, local police, and even wildlife officers have participated in the operation, which focused on cities such as Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tallahassee, as well as Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Many of the arrests occurred during traffic stops or workplace departures.
Bill Smith, president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, said officers targeted individuals with final deportation orders, but many others were detained over minor offenses, such as driving without a license.
Support from Trump, Frustration from Critics
President Trump praised the surge in arrests and vowed continued support for expanding the crackdown. His recent executive order also targets jurisdictions that limit cooperation with ICE, threatening legal action and public exposure of “sanctuary” areas.
“This is Biden’s mess, and we’re cleaning it up,” Trump said at a recent rally. “We don’t need more laws—we need more enforcement.”
But immigration attorneys and civil rights groups call the program unconstitutional and dangerous.
“This is about intimidation, not justice,” said Katie Blankenship of Sanctuary of the South. “Local law enforcement should not be used to wage a war on immigrant families.”
Agreements Expand Beyond Immigration Agencies
In Florida, even unlikely agencies like the state’s Department of Lottery Services and Fish and Wildlife Commission have signed onto ICE’s program. While the legality of these agreements is being questioned, their symbolic significance underscores the scale of Trump’s ambitions to federalize immigration enforcement via local partners.
Texas is second in participation, including recent deals that allow the Texas National Guard to arrest people at the southern border. Georgia and North Carolina also have growing roles.
Human Toll: Families Ripped Apart
Advocacy groups say some arrests have separated families and ensnared individuals with valid claims to remain in the U.S. Jessica Ramírez of the Florida Farm Workers Association said most detainees were men, some with work permits or asylum applications.
One woman, Chica, said her partner Fernando, the father of her infant child, was taken last Friday during a ride to work. “I haven’t heard from him since,” she said tearfully. “He texted me: ‘Honey, the police caught us.’ That was it.”
Chica now fears deportation and is considering leaving the U.S. entirely. “I’m alone with a baby. What can I do?”
Local Law Enforcement: Ready, But Limited
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd welcomed the expansion but warned of limitations. “This is a federal system and process,” he said. “We’re ready to do more, but they don’t have the space or manpower to process the volume.”
ICE has around 6,000 deportation officers nationwide. Trump has floated the idea of hiring tens of thousands more, but that would require significant funding and logistical coordination—challenges that even allies like Judd acknowledge.
Political and Legal Showdown Looms
Democrats in Congress, along with immigration rights organizations, are exploring legal challenges to ICE’s expanded use of local law enforcement. Critics argue the federal government is overstepping its authority and violating constitutional boundaries.
Despite the outcry, the Trump administration is moving full speed ahead.
“Florida is leading the way,” Gov. DeSantis said. “We will not back down from enforcing the law and protecting our borders.”
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