Florida officials announced this week that Operation Tidal Wave, a joint immigration enforcement initiative between the state and federal authorities, has resulted in more than 10,000 arrests since its launch last year.
Governor Ron DeSantis said the milestone reflects what state officials describe as a strengthened partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aimed at identifying and removing individuals unlawfully present in the United States, particularly those with criminal convictions or final deportation orders.
“Since Operation Tidal Wave launched eight months ago, Florida law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 10,400 illegal aliens and worked with federal partners to remove them from our state and country,” DeSantis said in a statement. He described the initiative as the largest joint immigration enforcement operation in ICE’s history.
Operation Tidal Wave operates under 287(g) agreements, which allow state and local law enforcement officers to assist federal authorities in carrying out certain immigration enforcement functions. The program began in April 2025 and is described by state officials as the first of its kind to be implemented on a statewide scale.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said many of those arrested were accused of crimes involving children and other serious offenses. He stated that state prosecutors will pursue criminal charges where applicable before individuals are transferred to federal custody for removal proceedings.
State officials said the operation has focused on coordinated enforcement efforts across Florida, with ICE working alongside multiple federal agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
According to figures released by the state, individuals arrested during the operation originated from a range of countries, including Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, and others. Florida officials said the arrests were carried out with assistance from numerous county sheriff’s offices across the state.
Additional support for the operation was provided by several Florida agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. State officials credited the coordination between agencies as a key factor in the scale and pace of the enforcement effort.
Florida leaders said Operation Tidal Wave is intended to serve as a model for other states seeking to expand cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The operation remains ongoing, with state officials indicating that arrests and removals are expected to continue in the coming months.
