A multiagency immigration sweep in Southwest Florida resulted in 500 illegal immigrants being taken into custody in late August, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said.
ICE and other law enforcement partners made the arrests Aug. 24-27 in the Fort Myers area, and the news comes as several illegal immigrants have been arrested and charged with murder and other crimes across the state.
According to an agency news release, authorities located and detained individuals with final orders of removal, repeat immigration violations, and criminal histories involving domestic violence, drug offenses, DUI, sexual assault, and other violent crimes.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a criminal illegal alien from Haiti with six charges associated with premeditated murder, and ICE and the Florida Highway Patrol arrested a Mexican cartel member and a Honduran accused of molesting two children.
“Working hand-in-hand with our state and local partners, we have successfully removed more than 500 illegal aliens from our streets, ensuring a safer environment for all,” ERO Miami interim Field Office Director Matthew Elliston said. “Those who choose to knowingly flaunt this nation’s immigration laws will face the consequences, and they will be provided a one-way ticket home.”
Elliston praised the law enforcement cooperation and “the power of unity and our shared commitment to community safety.”
The operation involved ICE, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida National Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other state and local agencies.
Among the 500 illegal immigrants arrested were individuals accused or convicted of premeditated murder, sexual abuse of minors, domestic violence, battery on law enforcement officers and driving under the influence, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
“We will not sit idly by and allow Floridians to be victimized,” DeSantis said. “Rather, we are executing on a whole-of-government approach that engages federal, state, and local law enforcement to get the job done and keep Florida safe and free.”
ICE officials released the names of 10 criminal offenders, including several who illegally reentered the country multiple times. Illegal reentry is a felony.
Noe Lux Castro, a 24-year-old from Guatemala, took a Florida state trooper’s Taser and attempted to use it against the trooper. He was charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer of his means of protection, resisting an officer with violence and resisting an officer without violence.
Marlon Rolando Calderon-Castellon, a 43-year-old from Honduras, illegally entered the United States on June 10, 2003, and has a criminal history that includes battery, illegal drug possession and illegal reentry.
Carlos Humberto Monzon-Cabrera, a 53-year-old from Guatemala, has a criminal history that includes battery and multiple convictions for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
Hermenegildo Andres-Juan, a 52-year-old from Guatemala, illegally reentered the United States after a previous deportation and has a criminal history that includes driving under the influence, resisting arrest, hit-and-run and public order crimes.
Armando Coc-Yat, a 39-year-old from Guatemala, illegally entered the United States on Dec. 4, 2018, and was ordered removed in November 2021. He has a criminal history that includes arrests for driving under the influence and hit-and-run.
Rigoberto Vargas-Resendiz, a 52-year-old from Mexico, illegally reentered the United States without inspection three times. An immigration judge issued him a final order of removal on May 26, 2011, but he illegally returned in December 2018.
Under President Donald Trump, ICE is focused on enforcing the law, protecting the public and removing dangerous individuals from local communities, officials said.
Florida has been a willing partner, supporting Trump’s immigration agenda with arrests and detention facilities. The state has one of the most robust 287(g) program partnerships in the country.
“Florida continues to demonstrate how to turn important policy into meaningful action,” DeSantis said.
The 287(g) program allows participating state and local law enforcement officers to perform limited immigration enforcement functions through three different models.
“These arrests highlight the critical nature of our work and the threats we encounter every day,” Elliston said. “Our partnerships through the 287(g) program are an indispensable force multiplier.”
According to WINK News, nearly 32,000 encounters with illegal immigrants have been reported by law enforcement throughout Florida, with roughly 25,700 arrests over the past year.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has the highest number of illegal immigrant encounters in the state. According to the Law Enforcement Accountability Dashboard, LCSO has recorded more than 3,500 encounters.
In February, the Lee County department sought nearly $23 million in additional funds to support ICE activities, Gulf Coast News reported.
DeSantis and other officials pushed for the 287(g) expansion, with state agencies and all 67 county sheriffs participating, Florida’s Voice reported.
The program requires close coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
“Florida is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our DHS partners to ensure public safety threats and criminal illegal aliens are removed from our communities,” said Anthony Coker, director of immigration enforcement in Florida. “These operations showcase the importance of federal, state and local law enforcement working together for the people.”
