DANIA BEACH, Fla. – Local 10 News got a first-hand look Thursday at the immigration crackdown, riding with U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they rounded up illegal immigrants in South Florida.
Agents said their goal is keeping the community safe, targeting people with criminal records in the United States or in their home countries.
Reporter Janine Stanwood embedded with the agents, witnessing the Dania Beach arrest of a Colombian national with a felony theft conviction in the South American country before crossing the southern border illegally and ending up in Florida.
“He was only catch and release and the subject failed to disclose his criminal history,” an agent said.
It was part of a day of targeted arrests, one of many since the Trump administration took office.
The South Florida ICE office did not disclose exact numbers, but nationwide arrests reached about 11,000.
The Colombian man arrested was brought to a facility where he’s taken out of handcuffs, fingerprinted and detained.
“We have different sources and information of different criminal illegal aliens that are present in the United States at the moment and we’re actively working every day,” the agent said.
Agents said this is nothing new. These targeted enforcement operations are just stepped up. U.S Border Patrol and Air and Marine Operations agents continue to patrol the coastline.
As for the Colombian man, he will likely be transferred from the Dania Beach facility to a detention facility and he has orders to be removed.