A joint operation between state and federal authorities resulted in the arrest of 15 undocumented immigrants, including Cuban nationals, in Key Largo, south of Florida, authorities reported this Thursday.
The raid took place on March 9 and was carried out by the Criminal Alien Apprehension Team (CAAT) of the Florida Highway Patrol, in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as part of an operation called “Operation Tidal Wave,” reported Florida Highway Patrol.
According to official information, the detainees are citizens of Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala who were in the United States illegally. Authorities indicated that all of them had significant criminal records.
Among the crimes attributed to some of the arrested individuals are home invasion with lethal weapons, aggravated assault, theft, burglary, and drug possession, as well as domestic violence, offenses related to minors, failure to appear in court, and deportation records, according to the report released by state officials.
The executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Dave Kerner, defended the operation and stated that these actions aim to enhance safety in the state.
"That’s how accountability looks. Florida will continue to lead with decisive actions to protect our residents," he stated.
For his part, the interim chief of the Miami sector of the Border Patrol, Samuel Briggs, highlighted the cooperation between state and federal agencies, which he described as a "force multiplier" for border security and response to potential threats.
The 15 detainees were handed over to federal immigration authorities, who will now handle their processing and determine their possible removal from the country.
The operation is part of an increase in the enforcement of immigration laws in Florida. Since March 2025, the state Highway Patrol has arrested more than 9,000 undocumented immigrants under the federal 287(g) program, which allows state agents to assist in immigration law enforcement. According to authorities, more than 1,600 of those arrested had criminal records.
The presence of Cubans among those arrested once again highlights the complex immigration situation faced by part of the island's community in the United States, especially at a time when authorities are intensifying operations against immigrants with criminal records.
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