How Florida's Immigration Crackdown is Saving our Future

For years, Floridians watched with growing frustration as the federal government essentially waived a white flag at our national borders. We saw the strain on our schools, the crowding of our emergency rooms, and the nagging sense that the "rule of law" had become an optional suggestion rather than a mandate.

But as the latest deportation and enforcement numbers roll in, it is clear that the tide has finally turned. Florida isn't just participating in the restoration of our national sovereignty; under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and in lockstep with the renewed vigor of federal enforcement, we are the "tip of the spear." As usual, the state of Florida is leading the way!

Recent data tells a story of a system finally working. Since last January, immigration arrests in the Sunshine State have tripled. We’ve gone from a lethargic average of 20 arrests per day in 2024 to over 60 a day. To those who claim this is "chaos," I say the opposite.

In a single week this spring, a historic partnership between Florida law enforcement and federal agents resulted in 1,120 criminal illegal alien arrests. This wasn't a "sweep" of innocent neighbors, as the left-wing media often portrays. These were individuals with existing criminal records or final orders of removal… People who an immigration judge had already told to leave.

Among those apprehended were MS-13 gang members, sex offenders, and repeat felons who had previously been deported only to sneak back into our communities. That is an unmitigated success for public safety.

For too long, certain jurisdictions in our state flirted with the dangerous "sanctuary" philosophy. Those days are over. The latest data shows that 67% of ICE arrests in Florida are now coming directly out of local jails. This is the common-sense cooperation that Floridians demanded when the legislature passed SB 1718 and other enforcement measures.

In Miami-Dade, the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center saw over 1,700 ICE detainers issued in just the first half of the year, a staggering increase that reflects a simple truth: if you are in our country illegally and you commit a crime that lands you in a local jail, you will not be released back into our neighborhoods to wait for a court date that you’ll never attend. You will be handed over to federal authorities.

Critics of these numbers often point to the "economic impact" or the "fear" in immigrant communities. But what about the impact on the legal citizens of Florida? What about the taxpayers who fund the $14 million the state has already released to counties to manage the burden of illegal immigration?

Success isn't just about the number of people leaving; it’s about the number of people who are now thinking twice before coming here illegally. For the first time in 50 years, the total immigrant population in the U.S. has actually declined. By making it clear that Florida is a state of laws, where E-Verify is mandatory and law enforcement is empowered, we are protecting the jobs, wages, and quality of life of every legal resident, regardless of their background.

We are seeing a historic "repatriation" of the rule of law. The record 61,000 detainees currently in federal custody and the surge in removals from Florida facilities like Krome and Broward are not "humanitarian crises", they are the necessary mechanics of a functioning nation.

Florida has provided the blueprint. We have shown that when you stop rewarding illegal entry and start prioritizing the safety of your own citizens, you get results. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they are a promise kept to the families of Florida. We are finally putting our citizens first, and it’s about time.