Florida just sent another unmistakable message: the Sunshine State isn’t playing games when it comes to illegal immigration.

According to state officials, the Florida Highway Patrol and law enforcement partners have now arrested more than 6,200 illegal aliens, turning every single one over to the Trump administration for removal. And the newest sweep — “Operation Criminal Return” — pulled some of the worst offenders off Florida streets, including child predators and repeat violent offenders.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the results, saying the state’s aggressive immigration enforcement is exactly what Florida voters expect — and what the Biden administration failed to deliver.

“I’m pleased to announce the successful completion of Operation Criminal Return,” DeSantis said. “This is a joint operation between ICE as well as the state of Florida, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. We nabbed 230 criminal illegal aliens off the street. Some of these guys had committed offenses against children, sexual predators.”

“These were people that under the Biden administration, they were allowed to just roam with no threat of serious deportation. The times have changed,” he continued.

Florida’s cooperation with the Trump administration has accelerated dramatically since January, with state officials repeatedly highlighting the difference between Biden’s catch-and-release approach and Trump’s renewed enforcement agenda. DeSantis credited the success of the operation to the revived partnership between state and federal authorities:

“We have tremendous momentum in the state of Florida because of our leadership on being the number one state to support the Trump administration’s policies — to take illegal aliens who are in our country, remove them, and send them back to their home country.”

WATCH:

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In addition to the 230 criminal aliens arrested through Operation Criminal Return, Florida Highway Patrol units have been targeting human smugglers, traffickers, and repeat border crossers on state roadways — all of which contributed to the 6,200 total illegal aliens apprehended and transferred to federal custody.
DeSantis said the message is simple: Florida will enforce the law.

“The state of Florida is leading. We’re showing what can be done when you work collaboratively with the federal government on an issue that’s very, very important to so many people — not just here in Florida, but throughout the United States.”

Florida has become one of the most aggressive enforcement states in the country this year, with immigration arrests and deportation activity surging under the combined efforts of state agencies and federal partners. Recent data show ICE arrests in Florida have skyrocketed, especially of individuals with no criminal charges or convictions, jumping more than 450% from last year.

As a result, Florida has positioned itself as a national leader in helping the Trump administration identify, arrest, detain, and deport illegal aliens at a pace far higher than in previous years.

, 2025-11-17 20:34:00, , Trending Politics Conservative Breaking News and Commentary, %%https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-tp-fav-2-32×32.png, https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/feed/, Chris Powell