Florida ICE Raids: 800 Arrests Spark Concerns Over Due Process and Civil Rights
In a four-day operation dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave,” nearly 800 individuals were arrested in Florida through a joint state and federal immigration enforcement effort. This unprecedented collaboration, praised by Governor Ron DeSantis, involved numerous Florida state agencies and over 200 local law enforcement entities partnering with ICE under the 287(g) program. The arrests are part of a broader national crackdown on illegal immigration, with the Department of Homeland Security suggesting this is a model for future nationwide operations. Critics, however, contend that the operation aims to instill fear and pressure undocumented immigrants into self-deportation, potentially harming community safety and overburdening local police.
John Q. Hosedrinker