The Department of Homeland Security and ICE are pulling out all the stops. They’re leaving it all on the field.
And a Homeland Security official has given Trump this jaw-dropping illegal immigration news.
Massive Sweep Signals Tough New Era for Immigration Enforcement
President Donald Trump’s administration has hit the ground running, launching a powerful crackdown on illegal immigration that’s sending shockwaves across the nation. In a stunning display of resolve, federal, state, and local law enforcement executed Operation Tidal Wave in Florida, a four-day sting that netted nearly 800 illegal immigrants.
The operation, detailed by Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin during a Saturday evening Fox News appearance, targeted dangerous criminals, including MS-13 gang members and convicted m*rderers. This move marks the beginning of a new chapter in border security, one that prioritizes American safety and fulfills Trump’s campaign promises.
Operation Tidal Wave, as described by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin in a post on X, was a meticulously coordinated effort that showcased the strength of partnerships between federal and local authorities. McLaughlin called the sweep “a large-scale operation” and a “preview” of what Americans can expect in the coming months. With nearly 800 arrests, including r*pists and violent gang members, the operation has already made streets safer. It’s a clear signal that the Trump administration is wasting no time in tackling the chaos left by years of lax immigration policies.
“This was a major success, it was a large-scale operation. And to your point, this is a preview of what is to come throughout the nation,” McLaughlin said on Fox News. Her words carry weight, reflecting the administration’s commitment to restoring order. By leveraging Section 287(g) authorities, signed by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the operation empowered state and local law enforcement to act as force multipliers in immigration enforcement. This 1996 law allows ICE to delegate specific functions to local agencies, enabling them to make arrests and remove dangerous individuals from communities.
Section 287(g) is a game-changer, giving local police the tools to tackle crime committed by illegal immigrants head-on. “What that means is they can actually make arrests and clean up our streets get these criminal aliens off our streets,” McLaughlin explained. The results speak for themselves: nearly 800 illegal immigrants, including hardened criminals like MS-13 gang members and convicted r*pists, are no longer free to terrorize American neighborhoods. For communities plagued by gang violence and crime, this operation is a lifeline, and it’s just the beginning.
Among the high-profile arrests were Ramon Ciro Castaneda and Carlos Perez-Perez, both members of the notorious Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). According to summaries provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation by the Department of Homeland Security, both individuals were under a “Final Order of Removal.” Their capture highlights the precision of Operation Tidal Wave, which targeted not just low-level offenders but major players in international criminal networks. These are the kinds of threats Trump vowed to eliminate, and his administration is delivering.
McLaughlin didn’t mince words when speaking to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “This success and massive operation is a window into what is to come throughout the country for the next 100 days of the Trump administration,” she said. She praised state and local law enforcement as “heroes” for executing the president’s mandate to secure the border and deport illegal aliens. This operation is a testament to Trump’s leadership, which prioritizes action over bureaucracy and results over excuses.
Trump’s overall immigration strategy is equally decisive. Since taking office on January 20, he has issued executive orders designating Mexican drug cartels, TdA, and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations. On March 15, he invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to fast-track deportations of gang members, a move that demonstrates his willingness to use every available tool to protect Americans. These actions resonate with voters who elected him to restore law and order, and they set the stage for more operations like Tidal Wave.
The administration’s focus isn’t just on street-level crime but also on those who enable it. McLaughlin pointed to the shocking case of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, arrested on Friday for obstruction after allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE. The immigrant, facing charges of strangulation, suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse, was no petty criminal. “This is just beyond the pale. I mean, take the Wisconsin judge. The fact she let this individual this illegal alien. American people should know the charges against him more,” McLaughlin said, her frustration palpable.
Equally disturbing is a case in New Mexico, where a judge and the wife of a TdA member allegedly destroyed evidence to protect a criminal illegal immigrant. “The wife and that judge went so far as to destroy evidence including two photos on this criminal illegal alien’s phone that showed decapitated individuals, he was sending that around,” McLaughlin revealed. She described how they smashed the phone with a hammer to prevent police from accessing it. Such brazen acts of obstruction are a slap in the face to law-abiding Americans, and McLaughlin vowed that the administration will pursue these “activist judges” relentlessly.
These incidents expose a troubling pattern of resistance to immigration enforcement, but they also show why Trump’s tough stance is necessary. His administration is not only targeting criminals but also dismantling the networks that shield them, from gangs to complicit officials. With operations like Tidal Wave rolling out nationwide, Americans can expect safer communities and a government that puts their interests first. The next 100 days promise to be a defining period, as Trump’s vision for a secure America takes shape.
