News Summary
A large-scale immigration enforcement operation near Florida State University has resulted in over 100 construction workers being detained. The operation, led by ICE and the U.S. Marshals, sparked local protests as many workers faced uncertainty. The event highlights escalating immigration enforcement policies in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration, raising concerns for affected families and the local construction industry.
TALLAHASSEE – On May 29, 2025, a significant immigration enforcement operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Marshals Service took place near the Florida State University (FSU) campus, resulting in the detention of over 100 construction workers. The operation began around 9 a.m. at a construction site located on West Gaines Street in FSU’s College Town, where law enforcement agencies surrounded the area and began detaining workers.
Witnesses described a tense situation, with law enforcement separating the detained workers into two categories. Some individuals were released after standard identification checks, while others were handcuffed and placed onto buses with windows covered in metal. The operation drew attention from bystanders and family members of the detained workers, leading to protests against the actions of the law enforcement agencies involved. Observations from a graduate student revealed that many workers were seen in handcuffs as they were escorted away from the site.
This operation has been characterized by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as a “targeted enforcement operation,” which included multiple search warrants executed as part of a larger ongoing investigation in the Tallahassee region. The detainees hailed from several countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, and Honduras. Among those detained were construction workers who expressed distress about potentially leaving their families behind, with some reporting to be apprehensive despite having work authorization or pending asylum cases.
The recent raids are seen as part of Florida’s escalating immigration enforcement strategy under Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration, which has cultivated one of the strictest immigration policies in the United States. The administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has been a notable aspect of its governance, and the operation at the FSU construction site has been identified as one of the largest single-day immigration actions in Florida’s history.
Local law enforcement agencies, including the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, clarified that they were not involved in the operation. Following the enforcement action, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that only a small number of those detained would be processed at their facility, with the majority expected to be transferred to ICE holding locations.
In the aftermath of the raid, construction companies in the area are likely to face challenges due to a diminished workforce. Many workers reportedly chose not to return to work after the raid, indicating the operation’s extensive impact on local construction activities. Nearby construction sites halted operations on the day of the enforcement action, as uncertainty and fear spread through the local workforce.
This large-scale immigration enforcement event has garnered significant attention, highlighting a trend of increasingly robust immigration crackdowns by state authorities in Florida. Governor DeSantis acknowledged the operation on social media, touting it as a success in advancing the state’s immigration enforcement efforts.
As the situation develops, the ramifications of this enforcement operation will undoubtedly resonate throughout the Tallahassee community, particularly among families affected by the raids. Concerns over the implications for workers who have been detained, as well as their families left behind, continue to grow amid an atmosphere of distress and uncertainty regarding the future.
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Additional Resources
- USA Today: ICE Raid in Tallahassee
- Wikipedia: Immigration Enforcement in the United States
- Tallahassee Democrat: Detained Workers Speak
- Google Search: Tallahassee ICE Raid
- Florida Phoenix: ICE Raids FSU Construction Site
- Google Scholar: Immigration Enforcement Florida
- WFTV: Arrests Made in Immigration Sweep
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
- Tallahassee Reports: Arrests Made in Immigration Sweep
- Google News: Tallahassee Immigration Raids
