More than 780 undocumented immigrants were arrested during a large-scale enforcement action called Operation Tidal Wave, which combined efforts between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and law enforcement agencies in Florida.
This operation focused on neighborhoods with a high number of immigrants, leading to widespread fear and frustration within those localities. One of those taken into custody was a man who had portrayed Jesus during Holy Week celebrations.
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Jill Hanson visited St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Jupiter, Florida, on Good Friday to watch a community member act as Jesus Christ in the traditional passion play.
By the following Tuesday, the same man had been picked up by the Florida Highway Patrol as part of what officials have identified as Operation Tidal Wave. This week-long sweep involved DHS, ICE, and state authorities and specifically focused on areas known for large immigrant populations.
Hanson, who leads a nonprofit in Jupiter called El Sol that helps immigrant families, expressed deep frustration over what happened. “This just makes me very upset, you wouldn’t even believe it,” she said.
She pointed out that the man had no arrest warrant, no criminal background, and was not part of any gang. Hanson added that operations like this don’t help keep people safer. “This makes people too scared to even speak to the police if they are hurt or see something bad happen,” she explained.
Local Reactions and Expanding Concerns
According to her, five people she knew were detained during the previous week. Reports reviewed by the Miami Herald confirmed that authorities had set a goal to arrest 800 people across various cities, including Jacksonville, Stuart, Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, Tallahassee, and counties like Miami-Dade and Broward.
Since Donald Trump’s presidency began, when he ordered nationwide deportation efforts targeting undocumented immigrants, Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers have been quick to act on these orders.
These rules have put thousands of people into deportation proceedings, even those with clean records and no official orders for removal. On social media, DeSantis wrote that Florida is at the forefront when it comes to supporting Trump’s immigration enforcement and deportation efforts.
ICE reported that within the first four days of the operation, they had already arrested more than 780 undocumented immigrants. The agency praised the action online, calling it an extraordinary team effort between state and federal groups, and described it as a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign.
People who live in the affected areas, including immigrants and those who work closely with them, said the event has caused many different reactions, such as sadness, frustration, and fear.
Some said their neighbors feel completely hopeless now, while others are raising concerns about how the operation was carried out and whether it was done properly or lawfully.
