In a significant crackdown in South Florida, ICE, in coordination with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, conducted a 10-day operation that led to the arrest and removal of more than 230 individuals. Labelled "Operation Criminal Return" or the more blunt "Operation Dirtbag," this initiative targeted a range of serious offenders from sexual predators to convicted murderers, ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan detailed in a recent media briefing.
According to WSVN, the operation, which spanned from late October into November, focused on registered sexual offenders who had been convicted, were on the state register, and had been instructed to leave the country but hadn't complied. There was also a broader target on individuals with histories of drug charges, battery, and even murder, said officials, who had immigration issues.
In figures shared at the news conference, NBC Miami reports that the arrested individuals included "54 sexual predators, 164 offenders of sexual crimes, 2 convicted murderers, 1 convicted of drug trafficking, and 8 convicted of other felonies." Sheahan is quoted saying, "These heinous criminals have gone and attacked children at their most vulnerable state, and law enforcement has stepped up to the plate to remove them from their communities."
During the operation, the role of the 287(g) program was highlighted, allowing local police to carry out specific federal immigration enforcement functions. This agreement, currently in place across all 67 counties in Florida, including heavyweights like Broward and Miami-Dade, has been signature to the operational strategy. While some critics question the mingling of local and federal jurisdiction, supporters see it as a robust tool in maintaining community safety. "President Trump and [U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem] have made it a priority to let the men and women of ICE go out and do their job, to make historic partnerships just like here in the state of Florida and nationwide, and together we have been able to remove, again, over 230 heinous criminals from their communities," Sheahan told NBC Miami. The results from this operation come amid a broader national dialogue on immigration and law enforcement collaboration.
