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Gov. Ron DeSantis: About 20K have been arrested statewide in immigration crackdown

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Published  January 5, 2026 9:57am EST
Florida News
FOX 35 Orlando
Gov. DeSantis speaks at Deportation Depot | FULL

Gov. DeSantis speaks at Deportation Depot | FULL

Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside Attorney General James Uthmeier, CFO Ingoglia and state law enforcement, held a press conference at the Deportation Depot to announce the arrests of 10,000 immigrants in Operation Tidal Wave. 

The Brief

    • Florida is awaiting federal approval to open a third immigration detention center and is considering a fourth, Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
    • The state reported about 20,000 arrests of people in the U.S. illegally over the past year through state and local efforts.
    • Florida has expanded detention facilities amid legal challenges as it supports the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

FLORIDA - Florida has emerged as a national leader among states building detention facilities to support President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown, aligning closely with the administration’s enforcement priorities.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that the state intends to expand the detention centers.

By the numbers:

He made the remarks during a news conference outside the state’s second immigration detention facility, known as "Deportation Depot," located at the former Baker Correctional Institution in northeast Florida.

The governor said Florida has carried out about 10,000 arrests of people in the country illegally over the past year through a state initiative conducted in partnership with federal law enforcement. He said local law enforcement agencies made an additional 10,000 arrests, bringing the total to about 20,000 statewide.

According to DeSantis, roughly 63% of those arrested under the state initiative had a prior criminal arrest or conviction. The governor has repeatedly argued that the program targets individuals who pose public safety risks.

What's next:

Florida is awaiting approval from federal officials to open a third immigration detention center and is exploring a possible fourth facility, Gov. DeSantis said Monday, as the state continues to expand its role in enforcing federal immigration policy.

DeSantis said the state is waiting for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to sign off on a new detention center planned for Florida’s Panhandle. 

Florida’s first detention site, an Everglades facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," has drawn legal challenges. Three federal lawsuits filed in Florida are contesting practices at that location.

The Source: Information in this story was gathered from a Jan. 5 press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis in Sanderson, Florida. 

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