Operation Black Tide: This is the name given to the massive raid in Florida to deport 800 undocumented migrants

Federal authorities launched this week a large-scale operation in Florida aimed at detaining and deporting around 800 undocumented immigrants, marking the first coordinated immigration enforcement effort between the federal government and state police since the Trump administration took office.

The initiative, called Operation Black Tide, was activated on Monday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and will last until Saturday.

According to documents obtained by the Miami Herald, the operation is targeting individuals with final deportation orders or criminal records in various areas of the state, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Stuart, Tallahassee, and Fort Myers.

Although it has not been confirmed how many people have been detained as of Wednesday, the operation marks a significant shift in immigration strategy, showcasing the increasing collaboration between DHS and law enforcement agencies in Florida.

Through the 287(g) program, an initiative that allows local police to take on limited functions of immigration agents, more than 230 law enforcement agencies in the state have signed agreements to participate, making Florida the state with the most collaborations of this kind in the entire country.

Among the entities that are already collaborating or planning to do so are local police departments, university security forces, and even state subdivisions, such as the security division of the Florida Lottery Department.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) declined to comment directly on the operation, citing security reasons. However, a spokesperson indicated that as part of its routine functions, ICE arrests immigrants who have committed crimes or violated immigration laws and that the results are announced publicly when deemed appropriate.

The collaboration between ICE and local law enforcement in Florida has intensified significantly since the return of Donald Trump to the presidency. Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, the state has actively promoted the federal 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement agencies to take on federal immigration law enforcement functions.

This program has been adopted by more than 200 jurisdictions in Florida, including cities such as Hialeah, Doral, Fort Myers, and Orlando. In Hialeah, for example, the agreement allows police officers to collaborate with ICE on the identification, arrest, and detention of undocumented immigrants, a measure that has raised concerns among immigrant rights advocates about its potential impact on community trust and fear of unjust persecutions. ​

In Doral, a city where approximately 70% of the population is foreign-born, the unanimous approval of a resolution to collaborate with ICE has sparked controversy, especially among the significant Venezuelan community, which fears an increase in arrests and deportations. ​

However, not all cities have accepted this collaboration without objections. South Miami, for example, has sought judicial protection to prevent its local police force from becoming an extension of federal immigration policies, arguing the need to maintain local autonomy and protect the trust between the community and the police. ​

This context of increasing collaboration between ICE and local police forces in Florida has created an atmosphere of fear and distrust among immigrant communities, who fear being subjected to arrests and deportations, even for minor offenses.

Immigrant rights organizations have expressed their concern about the potential negative impact on crime reporting and the erosion of trust in local authorities

Frequently Asked Questions about Operation Black Tide and Immigration Control in Florida