A 10-day operation targeting violent offenders in Florida led to the arrest of more than 230 undocumented immigrants, including 150 accused sexual predators, federal officials announced Thursday in South Florida.

“The operation targeted child predators, rapists and violent criminal illegal aliens with convictions including sexual assault of minors, rape, lewd and lascivious conduct, child exploitation, battery and attempted homicide,” DHS said in a press release.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the 10-day operation was launched on Oct. 25. Some of the immigrants arrested were from Cuba, Venezuela and Ukraine, DHS said.

“I call this Operation Dirtbag because these individuals were not just sex offenders, they targeted children. Some of the charges include sexual assault, battery [and] attempted homicide. These 150 illegal aliens will be gone and off our streets,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “Our kids will be safer. This partnership with Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida is a model we want to replicate across the country.”

The initiative was carried out in partnership between the Trump administration and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis through the state’s 287(g) program, which authorizes local law enforcement to assist ICE in immigration enforcement.

“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,” Gov. DeSantis said.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said Florida will not harbor criminals.

“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,” he said.

Glass said the individuals taken into custody included “some of the worst child molesters, rapists, murderers, [and] convicted criminals” who had been living in communities across the state.

ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan praised the partnership with state authorities, noting that more than 230 men were removed from Florida streets in just 10 days.

According to ICE, the arrests included:

54 classified sexual predators164 sexual offenders2 convicted murderers

All of the individuals had prior criminal convictions and had already served their sentences. Federal officials said many violated post-release requirements, including failing to report address changes or failing to depart the country as ordered.

While state and federal authorities celebrated the operation, immigrant advocacy groups voiced strong concerns. Activists with the American Friends Service Committee held a prayer vigil on Wednesday outside the Miami immigration court, saying the arrests unfairly stigmatize immigrant communities.

Advocate Yarelys Mendoza accused Gov. DeSantis of “using just a few people as scapegoats to criminalize an entire population” and criticized ICE and Customs and Border Protection for what she described as harsh treatment of immigrant families. She also noted that dozens of immigrants attending court hearings in recent weeks have been detained by federal agents.

Activists urged state leaders to recognize the contributions immigrants make to local communities and to protect families who feel increasingly targeted.

ICE officials defended the operation, arguing that all individuals arrested had been ordered to leave the United States and were not in compliance with federal requirements.

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