Recent federal immigration operations in Key Largo yielded more than a dozen arrests, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
As previously reported by Keys Weekly, parents taking their children to school and workers heading into the Florida Keys the morning of Nov. 21 noticed a helicopter circling in Key Largo. On the ground, federal agents in unmarked and marked vehicles performed several stops, as local resident Nick Rodriguez documented in a video and photos he submitted to the Keys Weekly.
Per a Facebook post by CBP, a Miami Air and Marine Branch Black Hawk crew and marine interdiction agents from the Key Largo unit teamed up with Border Patrol for a “targeted enforcement operation.” With support from Florida Highway Patrol troopers, the operation led to the arrests of 12 individuals, from Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia and Guatemala.
According to CBP, record checks revealed prior charges and convictions, including re-entry after deportation, driving under the influence, obstruction, illegal concealed carry of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance with a weapon, resisting an officer with violence, battery, domestic violence and other offenses. All those arrested were taken to the U.S. Border Patrol Marathon station for processing. The status of their cases and whether they’ll be deported remains unknown.
“The operation highlights the critical teamwork and dedication of federal and state law enforcement agencies in safeguarding our communities,” read the post.
Four days later, CBP’s Key Largo Marine Unit arrested an adult Venezuelan who officers said was illegally in the U.S. during a vessel stop near Rodriguez Key. He was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol for processing. Agents said they also found narcotics and paraphernalia in plain view during the stop. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office seized the items for further investigation.
Immigration enforcement operations have intensified in the Keys going back to earlier in the year when the Trump administration took office. In recent weeks, agents have staked out in Key Largo — and not far from Key Largo School — to conduct stops during the early morning hours.
