By Ginika Igboke
Florida authorities made nearly 20,000 immigration-related arrests in 2025, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced during a Jan. 5 press conference outlining the state’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement.
According to the governor, approximately 10,000 of those arrests were conducted under the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Tidal Wave, while another 7,674 individuals were taken into custody by officers with the Florida Highway Patrol. The figures do not include arrests made directly by federal agents or individuals who voluntarily left the country through self-deportation programs.
Of those arrested, more than 6,300 had criminal records, including convictions for violent crimes and sexual offenses. State officials also reported that several hundred arrests were connected to child exploitation cases, contributing to a total of roughly 1,200 child predators apprehended statewide during the year. Authorities said an estimated 1,000 people also self-deported through Florida’s own immigration compliance initiatives.
Deportation Infrastructure Expands
DeSantis held the press conference at the Deportation Depot near Jacksonville, a facility that has served as a major hub for removal operations. Officials said that in just a few months of operation last year, the site facilitated 93 deportation flights carrying 2,926 individuals out of the country.
The Deportation Depot followed the opening of the Alligator Alcatraz detention and deportation center located deep in the Everglades. DeSantis said both facilities now have a federal immigration judge on site, a move intended to significantly speed up the deportation process.
The governor also revealed that his administration is awaiting approval from the Department of Homeland Security to open a third detention and deportation center in North Florida, which would be known as the “Panhandle Pokey.” He added that a fourth site could potentially be established in South Florida later this year, though details were not provided.
DeSantis emphasized that the facilities are meant to be temporary measures designed to support federal immigration authorities who have run out of detention space.
“Our goal is to assist federal agents and keep dangerous individuals off the streets,” he said, expressing hope that expanded federal capacity would eventually eliminate the need for state-run detention centers.
Focus on Criminal Activity and Border Security
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said his agency, in coordination with the Department of Children and Families, continues to work closely with the Trump administration to locate hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied children who entered the country illegally in recent years.
Meanwhile, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced plans for the Department of Transportation to construct an additional major highway checkpoint along the state’s northern border. The project aims to close what Simpson described as “a major hole” used for criminal activity.
“We’re breaking up fuel theft rings, stolen vehicle operations, human trafficking networks, and catching people who pose serious threats,” Simpson said. “It’s making a real difference.”
Statewide Cooperation Mandated by Law
Officials credited Florida’s immigration legislation, signed into law in February 2025, for enabling the crackdown. The law requires all state, county, and local agencies—both within and outside traditional law enforcement—to participate in 287(g) agreements and cooperate with DHS immigration enforcement efforts.
“Every state agency in Florida has made a 287(g) task force arrest,” said Anthony Coker, executive director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement. “That level of coordination is unprecedented and reflects strong leadership from the governor and cabinet.”
Coker said state agency directors and county sheriffs have built close working relationships with federal partners and have also launched self-initiated enforcement operations.
“The Florida model has become the gold standard for state-level immigration enforcement,” he said. “As we head into 2026, we look forward to working with other states that want to replicate our success.”
Risks and Resistance
Many arrests stemmed from routine encounters such as traffic stops conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol. Dave Kerner, executive director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, acknowledged the dangers involved.
“Is it easy? No. Is it combative? Absolutely,” Kerner said, noting that at least 10 troopers were seriously injured during immigration enforcement operations. “But it can be done, and if more states joined these efforts, we could start fixing a problem that’s been building for years.”
DeSantis concluded by acknowledging that not all local officials are enthusiastic about cooperating with federal authorities. He warned that his administration is prepared to act against anyone found to be neglecting or violating their enforcement responsibilities.
“We will not tolerate breaches of duty,” the governor said, underscoring Florida’s continued commitment to strict immigration enforcement.
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