Brevard County just announced arrests of seven illegal immigrants within ONE HOUR of launching Operation Shield – exposing the truly mind-blowing scale of America’s border catastrophe happening right in our own communities.
At a Glance
- Brevard County Sheriff’s Office launched “Operation Shield” to identify, detain, and deport illegal immigrants, arresting seven individuals within the first hour
- The initiative leverages Operation Stonegarden, enabling 35 deputies to act as extensions of ICE after receiving specialized federal training
- All 67 Florida counties now have agreements with ICE to assist in deportation efforts under Governor DeSantis’ leadership
- Deputies conduct traffic stops that can lead to the discovery of illegal immigrants, who are then transported to Orlando for deportation processing
- Local agencies are stepping up because federal resources are insufficient to deport 1.4 million people already under active deportation orders
Florida Takes Immigration Enforcement Into Its Own Hands
While the Biden administration spent years playing catch-and-release with millions of illegal immigrants flooding across our southern border, Florida’s law enforcement has decided enough is enough. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey isn’t waiting for Washington bureaucrats to wake up to the invasion happening in our communities. His department has launched “Operation Shield” – a collaborative effort between local deputies and federal agencies that’s already bearing fruit against the illegal immigration crisis that the left pretends doesn’t exist.
“In just one hour we got 7 illegals here in Brevard County that are now on their way to detention. Our deputies are out here working hand in hand with our federal partners, working with FHP, this is what’s going to get the job done,” declared Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
Great job enforcing our recently enacted legislation to fight illegal immigration! https://t.co/9k9yturgy2
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 13, 2025
How Operation Stonegarden Actually Works
Unlike the performative border “security” theater we see from Democrats, Operation Stonegarden represents actual enforcement with teeth. The initiative empowers Brevard County deputies to make routine traffic stops that frequently reveal illegal immigrants hiding in plain sight. These aren’t complicated sting operations – we’re talking about basic law enforcement actions like pulling over vehicles with improperly affixed license plates on trailers. The kind of straightforward policing that somehow becomes “controversial” only when it might accidentally enforce our immigration laws.
“How it works, the Sheriff’s deputies would be the ones to make a traffic stop, and it could be for any sort of violation,” explained Julio Rosas, who has witnessed the operation firsthand. This operation is actually under Operation Stonegarden. It’s been in place for a couple of years, and the reason why that is important is because this is just part of the ongoing efforts from the state and local level to help the Trump administration.
Once identified, illegal immigrants are transported to a processing site in Orlando for deportation procedures – actual consequences for violating our national sovereignty, imagine that! The program also allows thirty-five members of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to receive specialized training to act as extensions of ICE and Homeland Security, multiplying federal resources without requiring more federal spending. Fiscal responsibility and law enforcement in one package – no wonder the left hates it.
Florida Leads While Washington Fails
Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has become a model for how states can address the immigration crisis when the federal government abandons its fundamental responsibility. Every single one of Florida’s 67 counties now has agreements with ICE to assist in deportation efforts. This isn’t some radical approach – it’s simply enforcing existing laws that Democrats prefer to ignore while they bus illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities where they can eventually vote for more Democrats.
“The impacts of illegal immigration don’t stop at the border. They filter into every community in our country,” Sheriff Wayne Ivey correctly pointed out.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd put it even more bluntly: “President Trump says it’s a new day. Gov. DeSantis says it’s a new day. Gov. DeSantis and our (Senate) President, Ben Albritton, and our (House) Speaker, Danny Perez, say we’re going to not only lead the state in keeping the people of the state of Florida safe, but we’re going to lead the nation and show them how.”
The Reality Democrats Don’t Want You To See
When critics trot out their tired accusations of “racial profiling,” they conveniently ignore the fact that many illegal immigrants are initially contacted by law enforcement for legitimate violations completely unrelated to their immigration status. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri has dismissed these concerns, emphasizing accountability for any improper actions by officers. But the real story here is that local agencies are stepping up because federal resources are woefully insufficient to deport the 1.4 million people already under active deportation orders.
“Governor DeSantis has made it clear that he thinks in order for the Trump administration to really fulfill its campaign promises of mass deportations, states have to utilize every resource that they can put towards actually helping federal law enforcement, because the federal agencies, as vast as they are, they do have limitations,” explained Julio Rosas from The Blaze.
For those who still don’t understand why this matters, perhaps Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said it best: “And these people need to go, and they need to go today.” The constitutional right to secure our borders isn’t optional – it’s fundamental to our sovereignty as a nation. Florida is simply doing what every state should: enforcing the law, protecting citizens, and refusing to accept the dangerous chaos that open border policies have created. Operation Stonegarden is what actual border security looks like.
