(NewsNation) — DHS announced its agents recently arrested more than 230 people in the U.S. illegally, with more than 150 sex offenders included in the Florida operation.
In a post on social media platform X, DHS said the people arrested were convicted with crimes including attempted murder, drug possession, sexual assault and lewd and lascivious molestation of children.
“This operation was called Operation Criminal Return, but I call it Operation Dirtbag,” Secretary Kristi Noem said during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News. “These criminals were not just sex offenders, they targeted children. These individuals should have never been in our country to begin with.”
Noem added that the collaboration between DHS and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a model she hopes to see implemented across the country.
Florida officials and the federal immigration agency have previously worked hand-in-hand to target illegal immigration in the state, with one operation that took place in May being dubbed “Operation Tidal Wave.” The operation saw the arrest of 1,100 illegal immigrants, with officials saying several of them arrested were alleged gang members.