A federal, state and local immigration-enforcement operation in Southwest Florida resulted in about 500 arrests between Aug. 24 and Aug. 27, 2026. Authorities said those detained included people accused of murder, child molestation, domestic violence, drug offenses and other crimes. The operation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and involved more than five partner agencies. Officials described the effort as part of a broader strategy to coordinate immigration enforcement with public-safety investigations.
| 1) | Operation scope and participating agencies |
| 2) | Murder investigation in Lehigh Acres |
| 3) | Other serious allegations and arrests |
| 4) | Immigration and criminal histories cited by authorities |
| 5) | Officials defend coordinated enforcement |
Operation scope and participating agencies
ICE conducted the operation across Southwest Florida from Aug. 24 through Aug. 27, working with the Florida Highway Patrol, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida National Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Authorities said the coordinated effort produced approximately 500 arrests. The agencies targeted people described by ICE as being in the country unlawfully and connected to criminal allegations, convictions or immigration violations.
The operation took place amid Florida’s extensive cooperation with federal immigration authorities. ICE said all 67 county sheriffs and their agencies partner with the agency, along with multiple state law-enforcement bodies. The stated purpose of the joint approach was to identify, apprehend and process people facing criminal or immigration-related enforcement actions.
Murder investigation in Lehigh Acres
One of the most serious cases involved Whycliff Longin, a 28-year-old Haitian national who had been seeking asylum in the United States. Lee County deputies arrested him in Lehigh Acres on Aug. 27 after responding shortly before 3 a.m. to a report from a woman who said she had escaped an attack and barricaded herself in a bedroom.
Deputies said they found Longin fleeing from a neighboring residence and later discovered a second woman dead inside a bedroom with apparent blunt-force trauma. The medical examiner classified the death as a homicide. Longin faces charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder, sexual battery and burglary with battery. He was being held without bond at the Lee County Jail, and ICE placed a detainer on him.
“My prayers are with the family of the woman who tragically lost her life, and with the survivor who showed incredible strength in fighting to live,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said.
Other serious allegations and arrests
ICE said agents and Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested a suspected Mexican cartel member and a Honduran national accused of molesting two children. The agency did not identify either person in the material describing the operation. The allegations remain matters for the courts and do not establish guilt.
Officers also arrested Noe Lux Castro, identified by ICE as a 24-year-old Guatemalan national, after an altercation. ICE alleged that Castro took a trooper’s Taser and attempted to use it against the officer. He was charged with obstructing a law-enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and resisting an officer without violence.
Immigration and criminal histories cited by authorities
ICE identified several other detainees as having prior immigration violations or criminal histories. The agency said Olmen Noel Vargas-Mendoza had allegedly reentered the United States three times and had a domestic-violence history. It said Marlon Rolando Calderon-Castellon had allegedly reentered unlawfully and had a history involving battery and illegal drug possession.
The agency also cited records involving Carlos Humberto Monzon-Cabrera, including battery and convictions for driving without a valid license; Hermenegildo Andres-Juan, including DUI, resisting arrest and hit-and-run; and Armando Coc-Yat, including DUI and hit-and-run allegations. ICE said Rigoberto Vargas-Resendiz had allegedly reentered three times and was subject to a final removal order. Other detainees named by the agency included Daren Ruiz-Mejia, Melchor Perez-Garcia and Samuel Mateo-Francisco.
Officials defend coordinated enforcement
Officials presented the arrests as evidence that federal, state and local agencies can combine immigration enforcement with investigations into alleged criminal conduct. Matthew Elliston, interim field office director for ICE’s Miami Enforcement and Removal Operations, said the weeklong operation reflected a shared commitment to community safety.
“Those who choose to knowingly flaunt this nation’s immigration laws will face the consequences, and they will be provided a one-way ticket home,” Elliston said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state would continue using a “whole-of-government approach” involving federal, state and local law enforcement. ICE said its partners had removed more than 500 unauthorized immigrants from the streets, while the operation’s arrest total was reported as 500.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Southwest Florida operation ran from Aug. 24 through Aug. 27, 2026. |
| 2 | Authorities reported approximately 500 arrests. |
| 3 | A Haitian asylum seeker was charged in a Lehigh Acres murder investigation. |
| 4 | ICE cited allegations involving child molestation, cartel ties and assaults on officers. |
| 5 | Florida officials defended close cooperation with federal immigration authorities. |
Summary
The Florida operation brought together multiple law-enforcement agencies and resulted in about 500 arrests. The cases ranged from a homicide investigation and alleged child abuse to immigration violations and offenses including battery, DUI and drug possession. Authorities said the coordinated model would continue as part of Florida’s immigration-enforcement policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Florida operation take place?
The operation was conducted in Southwest Florida from Aug. 24 through Aug. 27, 2026.
How many arrests were reported?
Authorities reported approximately 500 arrests during the operation.
What was the most serious case described?
Lee County deputies arrested Whycliff Longin in connection with a case involving a woman’s death and another woman’s reported assault. He faces several felony charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder.
Which agencies participated?
Participants included ICE, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida National Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.