In a sweeping show of force, federal immigration officers and Florida state troopers joined hands this week to detain nearly 800 illegal immigrants during a lightning-fast, four-day crackdown dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave.”
Led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and supported by the Florida Highway Patrol, the joint mission marked a “first-of-its-kind” collaboration between federal and state agencies, ICE officials announced. The operation is part of a broader immigration enforcement push now gaining serious momentum across the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t mince words, firing off a stark warning on social media: “We’re coming for you.” Her message left little doubt that Washington intends to ramp up pressure on illegal immigrants, especially those with criminal records.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis quickly took to social media as well, touting his state’s active role in the effort. “Florida is leading the nation in working with the Trump administration to enforce immigration laws and carry out deportations,” DeSantis wrote.
The operation didn’t just scoop up random border-crossers. According to journalist Bill Melugin of Fox News, the arrests netted a rogues’ gallery of fugitives — including a Colombian murder suspect, known MS-13 and 18th Street gang members, and even a Russian spy flagged by Interpol.
With nearly 800 taken off the streets in less than a week, “Operation Tidal Wave” seems to have sent a loud and clear message: when it comes to immigration enforcement, Florida and federal authorities are just getting warmed up.
