Florida law‑enforcement agencies, in partnership with federal immigration officials, arrested 249 undocumented migrants during a three‑day operation dubbed Operation 9. The sweep, which took place across multiple counties, culminated in the detainees being turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for processing.

Operation 9 nets 249 arrests in three‑day Florida sweep

According to an exclusive report, more than 100 officers—including Florida Highway Patrol troopers, ICE agents, Border Patrol officers , Broward Sheriff’s deputies, and members of the Florida State Guard—converged at a FHP station in Broward County before dawn. They then conducted coordinated traffic stops, handcuffed the migrants, and moved them to an air‑conditioned holding area where they were patted down, processed, and offered water and snacks before transfer to ICE.

Florida Highway Patrol reports 10,500 illegal arrests since March 2025

Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, told Fox News Digital that the state has apprehended nearly 10,500 undocumented migrants since March 2025. Most arrests occur during routine traffic stops for driving infractions, where officers discover drivers lack valid licenses and then verify immigration stauts.

ICE offers up to $2,600 self‑deportation incentive

Nestor Yglesias, ICE public affairs officer, explained that detainees can choose an arranged flight home or remain in custody for an immigration hearing.. He added that ICE sometimes covers the cost of a self‑deportation flight, which can be as high as $2,600,as an incentive for migrants to leave voluntarily .

Trooper Tony Golden says illegal population may be “astronomical”

Panhandle trooper Tony Golden, who patrols commercial vehicles in six counties, said his highway encounters lead him to believe the number of undocumented migrants in Florida is “astronomical.” He rejected claims that the operation is merely a cover for racial profiling, emphasizing that the focus is on individuals without legal status discovered during legitimate traffic enforcement.

Who are the “ghost” migrants with no records?

Lt. Ramin Sulaiman, assistant commander of the FHP Immigration Enforcement Section, described many detainees as “ghosts” because they have no prior records in state databases. He noted that more than 1 million migrants who entered the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration claimed Florida as their destination, yet many remain untracked, leaving a sizable unknown population.

According to the report, Florida has already conducted eight similar operations since October, each aimed at tightening immigration enforcement along the state’s roadways. The latest effort underscores the state’s aggressive stance compared with Democrat‑run sanctuary jurisdictions that often refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.