Overview

• Operation Tidal Wave resulted in the arrest of 780 undocumented migrants in Florida over a four-day span, with ICE citing it as a 'first-of-its-kind' collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies.
• The operation leveraged ICE's expanded 287(g) program, which deputizes local law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement, a practice that has surged by 371% under the current administration.
• Arrests included individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, such as a Colombian convicted of murder, alleged MS-13 gang members, and a Russian with an Interpol Red Notice for manslaughter.
• ICE officials describe the operation as a preview of similar large-scale enforcement efforts set to roll out nationwide, emphasizing public safety as a central goal.
• Immigrant advocates have raised concerns about collateral arrests and family separations, warning of potential due process issues and long-term community impacts.