ICE Operation in Florida: Over 150 Detained and What to Do If They Knock on Your Door

The nightmare many feared in the “Sunshine State” became reality over the last 72 hours. While families tried to go about their daily routines, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida, in an unprecedented alliance with local forces, carried out one of the most aggressive raids so far in 2026. The result: 152 people in federal custody, primarily from Mexico and Central America, and a community gripped by fear.

Key Fact for Readers: If you have a missing family member after an encounter with police in Florida this week, do not wait. Authorities confirmed that just on the second day of the operation, they deported 23 people. The process is moving faster than ever.

What really happened during this three-day operation?

It was neither a coincidence nor a routine check. The operation was a coordinated effort that used 287(g) agreements, those partnerships that essentially turn local police into immigration agents. This time, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) acted as ICE’s right hand, stopping vehicles under any pretext to verify the immigration status of occupants.

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Immediate impact summary:

• Total detained: 152 people.
• Primary nationalities: Mexican, Guatemalan, and Honduran.
• Affected areas: Though ICE has not released a list of cities (a common tactic to maintain fear), reports are concentrated in central and southern Florida.
• The “Cost of the Hunt”: This operation comes just as it was leaked that Florida has spent $573 million in emergency funds to finance these immigration crackdowns.

The Reality Behind the “Criminal Figures”

ICE has issued statements claiming their target is “criminal aliens.” But what does that mean today under the current administration? The truth is uncomfortable: under the new guidelines, even a traffic violation or simply being present during a workplace raid can be enough to end up in a detention center like the controversial “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Survival Guide: What to Do If You Are Detained in Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis has made it clear that Florida is the “spearhead” against immigration. If you live here, just “behaving well” is no longer enough. You need a defensive strategy.

1. The Right to Remain Silent Is Real: No matter what the FHP or ICE agent says, you have the right not to say where you are from or how you entered. Your silence is not an admission of guilt.
2. The “Judicial Order” Is Your Shield: If they come to your home, do not open the door. Ask them to slide the warrant under the door. It must be signed by a court judge, not just an ICE officer (administrative order).
3. Do Not Sign Anything: There is a document called “Voluntary Departure.” It is the fastest way to be removed without seeing a judge. Do not sign anything without an attorney reviewing it.
4. Family Emergency Plan: Who will pick up your children from school if you do not return? Who has access to your bank account to pay bail? If you do not have these answers today, you are at risk.

Why Is Florida Now More Dangerous Than Texas?

Unlike other states where sanctuary cities offer some relief, in Florida, the state government has forced all counties to cooperate with ICE. The recent proposal to ban remittances to undocumented immigrants is just the tip of the iceberg in a series of laws designed to make life impossible for those without papers.

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“They are storing us like objects in loading docks,” a local activist recently commented about the detention center in Orlando. And they are right. The focus is no longer just on security but on the logistics of mass deportation.

Image: ElHispanoParaTodos/PRESS

Written by

Federico Rodriguez

1,592 stories published

Writes for El Hispano Para Todos, the newspaper of the Latino community of Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast.

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