Florida Highway Patrol, Federal Agents Arrest 249 in Joint Immigration Operation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida authorities, working in partnership with federal immigration officials, have intensified enforcement efforts against individuals living in the United States illegally, culminating in a three-day operation that resulted in 249 arrests.
The initiative, known as Operation 9, involved officers from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) collaborating with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies. Those arrested were processed and transferred to ICE custody, according to state officials.
Many of the individuals taken into custody had little or no identification documents, complicating efforts to verify their identities. “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.
The operation underscores growing cooperation between Florida and the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who once competed against President Donald Trump for the 2024 nomination but has since become a key ally, has positioned the state as an active participant in immigration enforcement. Florida’s second-term governor has used state resources, including expanded authority under the federal 287(g) program, to support federal efforts.
Since March 2025, nearly 10,500 people in the country illegally have been apprehended in Florida through various enforcement actions, according to Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. State officials say the figure highlights what is possible when state and federal agencies coordinate closely.
Sulaiman noted a significant influx of migrants into Florida in recent years. More than 1 million immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration told border authorities they intended to head to Florida, he said. That number does not include individuals who entered without any encounter with authorities, often referred to as “gotaways.”
“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. They’re just here.”
The enforcement push comes as the Trump administration has prioritized interior removals and mass deportation operations. Florida has emerged as a testing ground for increased state involvement in what has traditionally been a federal responsibility. DeSantis has signed multiple measures in recent years strengthening cooperation with federal immigration authorities and imposing state-level penalties related to unlawful presence.
Immigration remains a contentious national issue. While supporters of stricter enforcement argue that robust action is necessary to uphold the rule of law and manage public resources, critics often raise concerns about due process, humanitarian considerations, and the economic impact of large-scale removals. Federal data shows significant border encounters in prior years, though comprehensive estimates of the current undocumented population vary.
As Florida continues its operations, officials say the focus remains on individuals lacking legal authorization to remain in the country. The state plans to sustain its partnership with federal agencies in the months ahead.
