Gov. DeSantis says Operation Tidal Wave reaches 10K immigration arrests

Gov. Ron DeSantis says more than 10,000 people have been arrested and turned over to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through Operation Tidal Wave.

DeSantis made the announcement during a press conference at a facility in Baker County dubbed “Deportation Depot.”

Out of the arrestees, 63% had criminal arrests or convictions — which DeSantis said included violent offenders and sex offenders.

For the 37% who didn’t have criminal backgrounds, DeSantis said they had broken the law by entering the country illegally.

In April, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched Operation Tidal Wave in Florida.

“There’s no other state that has been able to do anything approaching what the state of Florida has been able to do,” DeSantis said at Monday’s press conference.

Local and state law enforcement officials have been given the authority to help federal immigration officers. 

Since Deportation Depot opened in September, the facility has sent out 93 deportation flights with 2,926 people on board, DeSantis said. In addition, Florida has operated Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades and is waiting to see if the federal government wants a third facility.

DeSantis said Monday the state is waiting to get approval from the Department of Homeland Security to open “Panhandle Pokey” near Pensacola.

“If they approve, we’ll open. If they don’t, then obviously we’ll stand by,” DeSantis said. “I think it should be approved because I don’t think that they’re where they need to be on deep detention space. But we’re happy to go either way.”

Immigration advocates have argued some of the people being detained were longtime community members who lived, worked and went to school while living productive lives.

DeSantis spoke at a press conference that included Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson and State Board of Immigration Enforcement Executive Director Anthony Coker.

“I just want to tell you, right here is the Dream Team,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass. “I will tell you that they do not put up with crap.”

One person missing from the press conference: Lt Gov. Jay Collins.

Collins’ absence comes amid rumors of a falling out between DeSantis and Collins. Collins was speculated to be running for Governor for months to replace the term-limited DeSantis, but has not officially jumped into the race yet.