Florida Operation Leads To Arrest Of Nearly 250 Illegal Migrants In Major Enforcement Push

A coordinated immigration enforcement operation across Florida led to the arrest of 249 illegal immigrants over three days, underscoring the state’s growing role as one of the most aggressive partners in President Donald Trump’s renewed national crackdown on illegal immigration.

The effort, known as “Operation 9,” brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in a sweeping campaign aimed at identifying and removing individuals unlawfully present in the United States.

According to Fox News Digital, Florida Highway Patrol officers worked alongside agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, and several other law enforcement partners throughout the operation.

Those arrested were processed and later transferred to ICE custody.

Officials said a major concern during the operation was the lack of identifying information for many of the individuals taken into custody.

“We have no records for them, no accountability of who they are,” Lt. Ramin Sulaiman, assistant commander of the Florida Highway Patrol Immigration Enforcement Section, told Fox News Digital.

Sulaiman said Florida has been directly affected by the immigration policies of the Biden administration, which allowed large numbers of migrants who crossed the southern border to be released into the country.

“More than 1 million immigrants who entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration told authorities at the border that they were headed to Florida,” Sulaiman said.

“But that does not include all the ghosts, meaning the people that have no encounters [with law enforcement],” he added. “They’re just here.”

The operation reportedly involved traffic stops and roadside enforcement, with many individuals first being pulled over for routine violations before officers discovered immigration-related problems.

Florida officials have made clear that the state is not backing away from enforcing the law, particularly as illegal immigration remains a top national security and public safety issue.

Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, said nearly 10,500 illegal immigrants have been apprehended in Florida since March 2025.

Trooper Tony Golden, who works commercial vehicle enforcement in Florida’s Panhandle region, told Fox News Digital that the true number of illegal immigrants living in the state is likely far larger than many residents understand.

Based on what he has seen during roadside enforcement, Golden described the figure as “astronomical.”

He also rejected accusations that law enforcement officers are targeting drivers based on race or ethnicity.

“We are enforcing the law,” he said. “We don’t pick and choose what we want to enforce.”

Fox News Digital reported that more than 100 law enforcement personnel gathered before sunrise at a Florida Highway Patrol station in Broward County before the operation began.

The agencies involved included ICE, Border Patrol, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Florida’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and members of the Florida State Guard.

Throughout the enforcement push, detainees were transported back to a processing center, where they were searched, documented, and prepared for transfer to federal immigration authorities.

ICE public affairs officer Nestor Yglesias said many of those detained will eventually be presented with options regarding their removal from the country.

“Most of those detained have a choice,” Yglesias told Fox News Digital.

According to Yglesias, some individuals may agree to take an arranged flight back to their home country, while others may remain in custody as they wait for immigration proceedings.

He also said ICE determines whether transportation costs connected to removal are paid by the immigrant or by the federal government.

Breitbart News reported that some migrants may also qualify for self-deportation incentives of up to $2,600.

Operation 9 is the latest phase in Florida’s broader immigration enforcement strategy. State officials said eight similar operations have taken place since October, making this the ninth coordinated mission under the program.

In January, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said cooperation with federal immigration officials had already helped remove more than 10,400 illegal migrants from the state.

The latest operation comes as President Donald Trump’s administration continues placing immigration enforcement at the center of its national agenda.

For Florida, the message appears clear: the state intends to remain on the front lines of restoring law and order, defending national sovereignty, and supporting federal efforts to remove those who entered the country illegally.