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Four-day ICE sweep in Southwest Florida nets 500 arrests, including cartel and abuse suspects

Aug 27, 2026·Location: Lee County, FL

Four-day ICE sweep in Southwest Florida nets 500 arrests, including cartel and abuse suspects
Photo via Fox News

A four-day, multi-agency operation across the Fort Myers area of Southwest Florida resulted in about 500 arrests between August 24 and August 27, 2026. The operation involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the Florida National Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, conducted under Florida's participation in the federal 287(g) Task Force Model. Those arrested included nationals of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela and Haiti, some with final orders of removal, repeated unauthorized reentries, or criminal histories involving battery, DUI, hit-and-run, domestic violence, drug offenses, assault and sex crimes. ICE named a suspected Mexican cartel member and a Honduran man accused of molesting two children among those arrested, though it has not released a full breakdown of how many of the 500 have criminal records versus civil immigration violations. Florida has more 287(g) deputizations than any other state, with all 67 county sheriffs enrolled in the program, and ICE officials along with Gov. Ron DeSantis described the operation as an example of federal, state and local law enforcement cooperation.

Timeline

Aug 27, 2026—Operation concludes with approximately 500 arrests, including a suspected cartel member and a man accused of child molestation
Aug 24, 2026—Multi-agency operation begins across Southwest Florida under 287(g) Task Force Model
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