Key Takeaways
- US DHS arrested approximately 150 immigrants convicted of sex crimes in a Florida operation.
- The operation, named ‘Operation Dirtbag’, resulted in over 230 total arrests of ‘criminal illegal aliens’.
- Those arrested for deportation include citizens from Cuba, Venezuela, and Ukraine.
The US Department of Homeland Security has arrested around 150 immigrants convicted of sex crimes during a major Florida sweep. DHS confirmed the arrests as part of ‘Operation Dirtbag,’ which targeted more than 230 individuals described as ‘criminal illegal aliens.’
Charges and Official Statements
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated that charges included sexual assault, battery, and attempted homicide. She emphasized, “Our kids will be safer. This partnership with Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida is a model we want to replicate across the country.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on X that the operation lasted 10 days. He commented, “These were people that under the Biden administration, they were allowed to just roam with no threat of serious deportation. The times have changed.”
Broader Immigration Crackdown
Following his return to the White House in January, President Donald Trump initiated a significant crackdown on illegal immigration. He pledged to conduct the largest deportation effort in US history.
The President and Republican officials have accused the previous Biden administration of implementing ‘open-border’ policies. They claim these policies enabled violent criminals to enter the US and evade law enforcement.
Trump has deployed heavily armed federal agents to carry out immigration raids. Several of these operations gained attention on social media and triggered protests and riots near detention centers.
Democratic critics have accused the Trump administration of human rights violations. They argue the operations target immigrants without violent criminal histories.
