By Bethany Blankley
The Center Square

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers arrested 230 foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally, many with extensive criminal histories. More than half, 150, are criminal sex offenders, the Department of Homeland Security said.

The statewide initiative, Operation Criminal Return, targets convicted sexual predators and offenders who pose significant threats to public safety.

“Through Operation Criminal Return, hundreds of the most dangerous illegal criminal aliens with horrific criminal histories, including sexual crimes against children, are off our streets and will be out of our country soon,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “Florida has been the most aggressive state in America on combating illegal immigration, and our state and local law enforcement agencies are doing more every day to be the federal government’s greatest tool in the fight to enforce immigration law.”

ICE highlighted some of the most violent offenders arrested. Their criminal histories include convictions for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under age 12; lewd and lascivious assault on a child, petit theft, petit larceny, lewd and lascivious behavior with a minor; possession of burglary tools, third-degree grand theft auto, cocaine possession, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, loitering, resisting arrest without violence, lewd and lascivious battery on a child under age 16, violation of sexual offender registration requirements; possession of a controlled substance, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, attempted premeditated murder with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery.

Several Cuban nationals who were arrested in the operation have removal orders from a federal immigration judge dating back to 2012, which were never enforced.

Other arrest examples include a Venezuelan national who was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a child under age 13 and a Ukrainian national who was convicted of receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. He also had a removal order from last March.

“These were people that under the Biden administration, they were allowed to just roam with no threat of serious deportation,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “The times have changed. Florida is leading. We’re showing what can be done when you work collaboratively with the federal government on an issue that’s very, very important to so many people not just here in Florida but throughout the United States.”

FDLE participated through an ICE 287(g) program. It’s named after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996, 8 USC 1357, Section 287(g)(1), which authorizes ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration functions only under ICE’s direction and supervision. Local law enforcement officers can apply to participate in the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM), Task Force Model (TFM) and Warrant Service Officer (WSO) model, The Center Square reported.

Florida leads the U.S. with having the most 287 (g) agreements – more than 270 – as of November 13. All of Florida’s sheriff’s offices are participating, as well as dozens of colleges, police departments, state agencies, airports, county boards of commissioners and university board of trustees. More than one third of Florida sheriffs are participating in more than one program.

“Florida has shown exceptional leadership and dedication to public safety through strong partnerships with ICE. Together, we send an unmistakable message: Criminal aliens who threaten our citizens and violate our laws will be removed and prevented from committing further heinous crimes,” ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan said.

“In Florida, strong partnerships are vital to public safety, and our collaboration with ICE provides a model for the rest of the country as we continue to carry out the mission of President Trump and Governor DeSantis in removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our communities,” FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said.

In just 10 months this year, ICE has signed 1,154 Memorandums of Agreement for 287(g) programs in 40 states. They include 139 JEM agreements with law enforcement agencies in 31 states, 419 WSO agreements with law enforcement agencies in 36 states, and 596 TFM agreements with agencies in 34 states, according to data as of Nov. 13.