Gov. Ron DeSantis is showcasing his leadership and deep alignment with President Trump’s immigration agenda by directing Florida’s state and local law enforcement agencies to formally assist federal immigration authorities. Through participation in the 287(g) program and implementation of a new state law, Florida officers — including the Florida Highway Patrol — have already arrested more than 6,200 illegal immigrants, placing the state at the forefront of the Trump administration’s mass-deportation efforts.
Announcing the initiative, DeSantis highlighted Florida as a national leader in proactive enforcement. Supporters praised the move as an essential step toward restoring order, while critics, including several attorneys, argued that immigration enforcement remains a strictly federal responsibility. Many of those critics reacted angrily, accusing the state of overreach and insisting the program could undermine trust in law enforcement.
At a press conference, DeSantis officially declared the completion of “Operation Criminal Return,” a joint effort between ICE, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and other state agencies. “We nabbed 230 criminal illegal aliens off the street,” he announced, calling the operation a major achievement in Florida’s crackdown.
DeSantis sharply criticized the Biden administration, arguing that years of weak federal enforcement allowed dangerous individuals to remain in the country. “Some of these guys had committed offenses against children, sexual predators,” he said. “These were people who, under the Biden administration, were allowed to just roam with no threat of serious deportation.”
He emphasized that such leniency is over. “The times have changed,” DeSantis said. “We have tremendous momentum in Florida because we are the number one state supporting the Trump administration’s efforts to remove illegal aliens and return them to their home countries.”
Reinforcing his stance, DeSantis expressed unwavering support for ICE and strict border enforcement. “In Florida, we have an enforceable duty to help and be part of the solution,” he said. “There will be operations on the street. That’s how we’re getting these illegals.”
Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Tony Kingery echoed the shift in policy, noting that past procedures were far less involved. “In the past, we never dealt with it,” he said. “We would just make a phone call to Border Patrol… We never really did anything enforcement-wise.”
FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass also praised the intensified partnership between Florida and ICE. “Strong partnerships are vital to public safety,” Glass said. “Our collaboration with ICE provides a model for the rest of the country as we carry out the mission of President Trump and Governor DeSantis in removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our communities.”
Even as state leaders celebrated the operation, criticism persisted from progressive activists and immigration advocates. Some accused the state of overstepping legal boundaries or using immigration enforcement as a political tool.
Michelle Suskauer, a criminal defense attorney and former Florida Bar president, voiced those concerns directly. “Ultimately, immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility,” she said, arguing that deputizing local and state officers risks undermining trust with immigrant communities who may become fearful of approaching police — even when reporting crimes.