Yes.
About 230 unauthorized immigrants were arrested in Operation Criminal Return, a 10-day joint operation between ICE and Florida law enforcement that was launched on Oct. 25.
The people targeted all were convicted criminals and accused of being in the country illegally. Of those arrested, authorities said 150 were sexual predators.
Not all immigration raids and operations target criminals, however. In the United States., being in the country without proper documentation isn’t a crime –– it’s a civil offense. Therefore, some immigrants ICE detain are not subject to criminal trials. Instead, an immigration judge handles their case and decides whether or not they should be deported.
Florida has the third most unauthorized immigrants in the country, with an estimated 1.6 million in 2023, according to PEW Research Center. It follows behind Texas (2.1 million) and California (2.3 million).
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Sources
- United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Operation Criminal Return
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Operation Dirtbag
- PEW Research Center Immigration Study
- Suncoast Searchlight Is it a crime to be in the U.S. without proper documentation?
