DeSantis Launches ‘Operation Tidal Wave’ To Deport Illegal Immigrants In Florida
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has launched a major state-led enforcement initiative aimed at combating the influx of illegal immigrants residing in the Sunshine State. Dubbed Operation Tidal Wave, the statewide effort is designed to locate and remove individuals who have entered or remained in the country unlawfully, marking a decisive move to assert state authority where many believe the federal government has failed.
The operation, announced late last week, is a joint task force between Florida state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and has already resulted in the arrest of over 800 illegal immigrants, many of whom had prior criminal convictions or final deportation orders.
According to DeSantis, the initiative reflects Florida’s broader commitment to law and order in the face of what he has described as the Biden administration’s “open border policies.” “Florida will not sit idly by while the federal government abandons its responsibilities,” DeSantis stated during a press briefing. “We will use every resource at our disposal to protect our communities from the fallout of illegal immigration.”
The operation began with targeted arrests across multiple Florida counties, focusing on individuals flagged in federal databases or already subject to removal proceedings. ICE confirmed that among those taken into custody were foreign nationals from Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, and other nations—many of whom had previously been released under Biden-era border policies.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is playing a key role in tracking down illegal aliens through data-sharing agreements with federal authorities. Local sheriff’s departments and state troopers are also participating, creating what officials describe as a “force-multiplier” effect across the state.
ICE released a statement praising the partnership, noting that over 800 undocumented immigrants have been arrested so far in Florida as part of a broader national push to prioritize public safety. “The individuals arrested had serious criminal charges ranging from burglary to sexual battery,” said ICE in a press release, emphasizing that Operation Tidal Wave targets those posing the highest risk to public safety.
DeSantis, who has long been an outspoken critic of the Biden administration’s border policies, called the operation a “necessary step” toward reclaiming state sovereignty over immigration enforcement. “The American people are fed up,” he said. “We are a sovereign state, and we will not be dictated to by Washington bureaucrats who refuse to secure the border.”
The operation follows months of rising frustration among Floridians, particularly in rural and suburban counties, where local law enforcement agencies report an uptick in crimes linked to undocumented individuals. Critics of federal immigration enforcement argue that states have been left to fend for themselves as the border crisis spills into communities nationwide.
While left-leaning media outlets have criticized the operation as politically motivated, DeSantis’s supporters argue that he is simply doing what the federal government refuses to do—upholding the law. Many conservatives see this as a model for other states to emulate.
Florida law enforcement leaders are standing firmly behind the initiative. “We have to protect our citizens,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who confirmed his office has already participated in multiple sweeps under Operation Tidal Wave. “We’re not talking about hardworking families—we’re talking about people who are here illegally and are breaking laws on top of that.”
According to the Washington Examiner, a significant number of those arrested were already under deportation orders but had not been removed due to what ICE referred to as “insufficient cooperation” from other jurisdictions under the Biden administration. Florida’s stepped-up cooperation with ICE under DeSantis marks a reversal of the trend seen in sanctuary cities and states.
The crackdown also arrives as illegal immigration remains a top concern for many American voters. Recent polling indicates that a majority of Floridians support tougher immigration enforcement, particularly as concerns mount over crime, housing costs, and resource allocation.
Critics of the Biden administration argue that its lax border enforcement has enabled a surge of illegal crossings and overwhelmed the immigration court system. Under Biden, border apprehensions have reached historic highs, while interior deportations have declined significantly.
For conservative voters in Florida, Operation Tidal Wave is a long-overdue response to what they see as a crisis of national security and public safety. “Governor DeSantis is stepping up where Biden has completely failed,” said a supporter in Volusia County. “We need leaders who are willing to take action, not just give speeches.”
The operation is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with Florida officials pledging additional resources to track and detain those who remain in the state illegally. The governor’s office hinted that more policy announcements on immigration enforcement may be forthcoming.
As the 2024 election cycle intensifies, immigration is shaping up to be a defining issue once again—and DeSantis’s aggressive move may signal how red-state governors plan to confront the federal government’s inaction on illegal immigration. Operation Tidal Wave may be just the beginning of a broader conservative push to restore border security, one state at a time.