Tallahassee, FL - A large-scale law enforcement operation in Tallahassee ended Thursday with more than 100 people detained at a student housing project near Florida State University.
The arrests took place at the Perla at the Enclave construction site, where workers were allegedly found without proper documentation.
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with state and federal officers, surrounded the job site early in the morning.
Witnesses reported seeing construction workers placed in handcuffs and taken away in unmarked vans.
The Perla complex is expected to serve as housing for FSU students once completed.
According to ICE, some of those arrested had previously been deported or had criminal records.
One person is facing charges for allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting law enforcement officers.
The operation was part of a larger investigation targeting illegal employment in the area.
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement both publicly praised the operation.
In a social media post, DeSantis called it a major bust and emphasized the role of state police in enforcing immigration laws.
Photo: Douglas Rissing / iStock / Getty Images
Construction company officials say they comply with employment verification rules and are cooperating with authorities.
Local residents and business owners expressed mixed reactions. Some were shocked by the scale of the arrests, while others defended the workers.
ICE officials stated the operation aims to hold employers accountable while protecting jobs for legal workers. The investigation is ongoing, and further details have not been released.
The incident has sparked renewed debate in Florida over labor, documentation, and immigration enforcement.