U.S. immigration and customs enforcement officials, along with state law enforcement officials, arrested around 780 immigrants this week in this week's operation, according to ICE data obtained by the New York Times.
The operation began Monday and targeted immigrants who were not documented in the final deportation order, according to an ICE official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the business. Officers picked up more than 275 immigrants in the final deletion order, data showed.
ABC News and Fox News previously reported news of arrests that took place over four days.
The Trump administration's attempt to accelerate the deportation of undocumented immigrants was the latest move that was far below the administration's goals.
Since President Trump took office, ICE officials have worked with various federal agencies to launch attacks across the country. Officials say this week's efforts in Florida were first implemented as part of a formal arrangement with state law enforcement, known as the 287(g) contract.
The Trump administration has sought to recruit local governments to support immigration operations to accelerate deportation. The administration resumed collateral arrests during such operations. This allows officers to pick up immigrants who were not initially targeted but were around individuals who were sought by the ice.
In general, people must have received an order to be removed by an immigration judge before being deported. However, since its inception in 2024, 70% of these deletion orders have been issued to those who did not attend the hearing before the judge, according to a Times analysis of court records.
“We're going to break up our family,” Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigration Coalition, said of the arrest this week. “And that's not a welcome state that Florida has been going for immigration for decades.”
Petit said that given the scale of the operation, many of the arrested people may be in the country in some legal status and have no criminal history.
The attacks represent the biggest escalation of immigration enforcement in Florida since Trump took office, adding that Petit far reflects the president's promise of expelling the U.S.
Ice operations in the community undergo extensive research and monitoring. They also need a lot of officers, which has led the Trump administration to draw in several other law enforcement agencies.
Trump administration officials have now warned undocumented immigrants to leave the country.
“President Trump and I have an unlawful clear message to the people of our country. We're leaving now,” Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem said in a statement Monday. “If you don't self-report, we will corner you, arrest you, and banish you.”
Orlando Mayorkin, Albert San and Miriam Jordan Reports of contributions.
