Trump threatens to pull ICE from California as Florida immigration arrests surge

President Donald Trump has said he is considering withdrawing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from California, accusing the state of defying federal immigration law and sheltering undocumented migrants. Trump claimed that removing ICE would create a “crime nest” and suggested the move could force California to enforce federal immigration rules.

During the same period, Florida has experienced a dramatic rise in immigration arrests. Data compiled by the University of California, Berkeley shows that 39,000 immigrants were detained in Florida between Jan. 20, 2025 and March 11, 2026, more than triple the 11,088 arrests recorded under the Biden administration. Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has expanded state‑local cooperation with ICE through 287(g) agreements, granting local police immigration enforcement powers. The arrests often begin with minor traffic stops that lead to ICE custody, prompting criticism from civil‑rights groups.

Both developments highlight ongoing tensions between federal immigration policy and state or local authorities, with the Trump administration pressing for stricter enforcement while facing pushback from sanctuary jurisdictions and immigrant‑rights advocates.