Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that more than 10,000 illegal aliens have been arrested in Florida as part of "Operation Tidal Wave" while speaking at the "Deportation Depot" in Sanderson this week. The operation, established in April 2025 in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, authorizes federal and state officials to identify and remove criminal illegal aliens under the 287(g) program.
Gov. DeSantis also elucidated the operation as a "force multiplier" with federal authorities.
"Operation Tidal Wave has now hit over 10,000 arrests of illegal aliens who have been turned over to the Department of Homeland Security," DeSantis said. "Of those, 63% had criminal arrests or convictions, including violent offenders and sex offenders."
In addition, Gov. DeSantis mentioned that those in the country illegally, regardless of committing a crime, were subject to removal. It is illegal to enter the country under 8 U.S.C (U.S. Code).
Other immigration enforcement by state and federal officials has included "Operation Dirt Bag" targeting illegal alien sex offenders. In all, DeSantis asserted nearly 20,000 immigration-related arrests were made in 2025.
Florida is the only state in the country to legislatively mandate that all 67 county police departments participate in the 287(g) program, despite some initial pushback.
"There's not another state in the country that is even close in terms of this level of participation. So we've led, it's been very effective," DeSantis said.
Florida's illegal immigration operations correspond with its opening of facilities to expedite removals, including the Deportation Depot, which opened in September 2025.
Another site, "Alligator Alcatraz," was established in the Everglades in July 2025. Both also followed after DeSantis signed a package of anti-illegal immigration measures into state law in February 2025.
Another facility has been planned for the Florida Panhandle to assist in efforts.
"Now you have one here, you have one in South Florida, and that's been able to speed up the process. Our goal is we want people here as little as possible. The goal is not to create a long-term facility; that's not the function," DeSantis said. "The function is, they don't have enough bed space at DHS in Florida, and honestly, they have very little in Florida compared to other states."
"Our function is, rather than release folks on the street that will have an ability they can be processed, and then the law can be enforced, and we're going to continue to be supportive of that," DeSantis added.
