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Several operations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducted since Friday in various locations throughout Miami-Dade, particularly in the heart of Little Havana.
In the last 48 hours, multiple videos of handcuffed men, black vehicles with flashing lights, and uniformed agents checking documents have circulated on social media.
"Agents from the Florida Highway Patrol and federal agencies conducted random traffic stops and detained workers from various unions, including a Nicaraguan individual who is in the process of seeking asylum," reported the channel Telemundo.
In the videos, several residents in the area shouted at the ICE members: “They are people who are working.”
Testimonials from residents indicate the presence of federal vehicles and Florida Highway Patrol agents in areas such as Little Havana, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Doral, and Miami Beach.
“You can't even go out in Little Havana. There are Border Patrol cars everywhere, and I've been home for two days,” said a resident.
According to witnesses, the agents reportedly detained workers, gardeners, and construction workers.
These actions take place in the context of a more aggressive federal policy under the Trump Administration, which has intensified the targeting of immigrants with criminal backgrounds, but has also been criticized for arresting workers without any criminal record.
On the iconic Calle Ocho in Little Havana, the topic dominates conversations in restaurants and bodegas.
"Everyone knows someone who could be arrested," commented a Cuban resident in the area.
Organizations for immigrant defense, such as Americans for Immigrant Justice and Florida Immigrant Coalition, have urged ICE to clarify the nature of their operations and to respect the due process of those undergoing asylum or status adjustment proceedings.
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