Over 1,000 arrests in Florida as ICE expands local law enforcement cooperation
A six-day ICE operation in Florida led to the arrest of over 1,000 individuals. The operation targeted those with deportation orders and criminal histories, with increased local law enforcement involvement.
A six-day immigration sweep in Florida led to the arrest of more than 1,100 people, marking one of the largest such operations in U.S. history.
The operation, conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), partnered with local agencies including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Corrections.
Florida operation: collaboration between ICE and local law enforcement
The operation, which began in April 2025, primarily targeted individuals with a previous criminal record and already existing deportation orders, which amounted to 60% of the people arrested.
Since January 2025, Trump's administration has strengthened bonds with local law enforcement agencies, so they would collaborate with ICE to apprehend undocumented individuals. Thanks to this, local officers now have the authorization to make arrests directly.
Expanding ICE enforcement powers through local partnerships
According to Austin Kocher, a researcher at Syracuse University, the partnership between local enforcement and ICE may enhance its ability to handle the deportation process, and it would mean federal officers would be able to focus on working with foreign governments for travel documents and coordinating deportations.
However, the controversy surrounding the 287(g) program is big. There are many who have voiced opposition to this program, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They argue that ICE collaboration with local law enforcement may turn into a slippery slope, to civil rights violations, drain local resources, and undermine public safety.
