Revved-Up Roundup: DeSantis Touts Florida-ICE Joint Efforts, Flaunts "New Sheriff"
Massive Arrest Spree: Collaboration between ICE and Florida authorities results in historic arrests exceeding 1,100 individuals in a significant law enforcement operation.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes a victory lap as Florida's collaboration with ICE leads to the arrest of over 1,100 illegals.
The strong-arm approach resulted in the capture of undesirables such as a Brazilian with a rap sheet for aggravated assault, a kidnapping-inclined Mexican, and a couple of murderous Colombians, ICE Dir. Madison Sheahan revealed.
This swoop marks "the most single arrests done by a state in a single week" in ICE history, Sheahan said, giving a big thumbs up to the cooperation with the Florida police force. "Operation Tidal Wave" proved instrumental in bouncing hundreds of violent gang members out of Florida neighborhoods.
ICE touts the 287(g) program, which empowers local law enforcement to enforce certain aspects of US immigration law. Under this arrangement, local cops were trained and authorized to carry out immigration-related duties, particularly in identifying and processing undocumented immigrants in their custody.
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The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Operation Tidal Wave claimed the record for the most arrests ever made by a state in a week by ICE.
Sheahan also declared Operation Tidal Wave as an example that may be replicated in other states to prioritize community safety, echoing the directive the president set for the law enforcement community.
The week-long operation, undertaken from April 21 to 26, saw a total of 1,120 arrests, with 63% having prior criminal records. Of those snared, 378 had final deportation orders from an immigration judge. Offenders included murderers, sex offenders, and fugitives, as well as members of violent foreign gangs such as MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and the 18th Street Gang, among others.
Gang members from Guatemala (437), Mexico (280), Honduras (153), Venezuela (48), El Salvador (24), and various other countries (178) were among the arrestees, officials reported.
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Florida led the charge in ridding their state of these lawbreakers, ICE reported.
"We've had a president, Joe Biden, who opened the border and essentially declared that people could come illegally," DeSantis asserted. "This was affecting not just the southern border but all communities across the country, including here in Florida."
"Last week, Florida state agencies joined federal authorities to apprehend over 1,100 illegal immigrants,” DeSantis continued, highlighting their commitment to uphold the law. “We don't want criminals like these people in our country, some of whom have already been deported."
DeSantis underlined the message conveyed by the operation: the US is serious about enforcing immigration laws. "When you try to exploit the system and sneak into the country, there's a new sheriff in town, and that won't be tolerated," he declared.
Greg Norman is a digital reporter for our news outlet.
[1] Lyman, M. L. (2015). The 287(g) Program: An Overview. Congressional Research Service.[2] Lyman, M. L. (2015). The 287(g) Program: An Overview. Congressional Research Service.[3] Hamill, R. (2008). The 287(g) Program: What Are the Issues?. Congressional Research Service.[4] Pyle, S., & Kang, H. M. (2018, October 11). U.S. Plans to Cut Funds to California 'Sanctuary Cities,' Officials Say. The New York Times.[5] Migration Policy Institute (2021). The 287(g) Program's Impact: An Assessment of the Program's Effectiveness in Improving Public Safety and the Immigration System.
In the early 2000s, the 287(g) program was first initiated under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allowing local law enforcement agencies to enforce specific aspects of US immigration law. The primary goals of the program include enhancing community safety, efficient enforcement, and capacity building by equipping local agencies to aid in immigration enforcement tasks, while jointly leveraging their resources alongside federal and state agencies. The program offers two main models: Jail Enforcement (JE) and Warrant Service Officer (WSO), as well as a Task Force Model (TFM) which has faced concerns over civil rights abuses. Over the years, the program has undergone variations in implementation, expanding under the Bush and Trump administrations before facing restrictions during the Obama administration, only to see a revival under current policies.
Operation Tidal Wave signifies one such instance where the 287(g) program played a crucial role in coordinating large-scale immigration enforcement operations between federal and state authorities, ultimately resulting in the removal of violent criminal aliens from communities across the US.
- In the revamped 287(g) program's operation, Tidal Wave, Florida police force played a significant role in integrating certain aspects of US immigration law, particularly in identifying and processing undocumented immigrants.
- Under the 287(g) program, local law enforcement agencies, including those in Florida, were deported 378 individuals with final deportation orders from an immigration judge during Operation Tidal Wave.
- Despite the concerns of civil rights abuses with the Task Force Model, the 287(g) program's instrumental role in Operation Tidal Wave, which led to the deportation of 1,120 individuals, demonstrated its effectiveness in prioritizing community safety and enforcing immigration laws.
- Critics argue that the current administration's strong emphasis on the 287(g) program, as evident in Operation Tidal Wave, could prove divisive in the realm of politics and general-news discussions, especially regarding immigration policies and the ongoing debates surrounding border security.
