The immigrant community in Miami experienced a weekend filled with anxiety following the circulation of social media posts warning about alleged operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in various parts of the city.
Despite the absence of an official confirmation from federal authorities regarding a large-scale operation, numerous residents have reported sightings of agents and official vehicles in the streets of Miami-Dade County and surrounding areas.
A viral Instagram post on Friday night from content creator @un_martitodurako sounded the alarm: “Operations are all over Miami, try not to go out, stay calm, things are not right for partying. ICE is everywhere. Be cautious.”
This message quickly spread among the Latino community in South Florida, garnering views and reactions. In the comments, many users claimed to have seen ICE or Border Patrol agents in diverse locations such as Miami Beach, Little Havana, Hialeah, Doral, Coral Gables, Hollywood Beach, and Homestead.
“You can't even go outside in Little Havana; Border Patrol cars are everywhere,” commented a woman who claimed she had been “stuck at home for two days.”
Another user reported that “they were parked all day in the Flagler and 27th Street area,” while someone else mentioned seeing them “at NW 20th and Flagler, where they say a big raid is planned for Saturday and Sunday.”
Other eyewitness accounts indicated a visible presence in commercial areas. “They’re at Home Depot, inside the trucks, and they pop out by surprise,” wrote a man who identified himself as a construction worker.
Another individual described seeing “about eight black cars in front of Moshi Moshi restaurant, at Biscayne and 79th,” while one person recounted that “today at the CVS I went to, there were a bunch of them.”
In Hollywood Beach, north of the county, several online users also reported the presence of agents: “I saw them here today, first time seeing that in this area,” stated a resident. Others mentioned spots like the Hard Rock Casino and the Turnpike, where official vehicles were reportedly seen recently.
The post also sparked a wave of supportive and concerned messages. “Thanks for the warning,” “may God protect our hardworking people,” and “it's sad to see people who just want to get ahead being taken away,” were among the most repeated comments.
However, there were also critical voices urging calm and caution against misinformation: “If you wrote better, the message would be clearer,” responded a follower, to which another user replied sarcastically: “Crystal clear, curfew.”
Recent Background
Although there has been no official confirmation of mass operations this weekend, accredited media have documented recent ICE raids in Miami during 2025.
In June, NBC 6 South Florida reported an operation in the northwest of Miami-Dade County where 11 individuals were arrested following a house raid. In January, both Telemundo 51 and Miami New Times recorded similar actions with detentions of undocumented immigrants, some of whom had pending deportation orders.
These events have instilled fear among migrant communities, especially among Cubans, Venezuelans, and Central Americans residing in the greater Miami area.
“I’ve seen videos of owners crying as they took their employees away,” wrote an outraged internet user. “Thousands of families are suffering this year for being immigrants and just wanting to work.”
Rumors and Tension Within the Community
So far, neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued statements regarding scheduled raids or special operations in Miami during December.
Nonetheless, fear has spread among migrants, many of whom prefer to stay indoors until the situation becomes clearer.
Meanwhile, social media has become a mirror of the anxiety felt on the streets of South Florida: amid fear, misinformation, and solidarity, thousands share a common sense of vulnerability in the face of a potential wave of raids that, whether real or not, rekindles the worst fears of the immigrant community.
Understanding ICE Operations in Miami
What sparked the concern about ICE operations in Miami?
Concern arose from a viral social media post warning about alleged ICE operations throughout Miami, causing anxiety among residents despite no official confirmation from authorities.
Have there been recent ICE raids in Miami?
Yes, there have been documented ICE raids in Miami, including a notable operation in June 2025 where 11 arrests were made in the northwest Miami-Dade area.
How has the community reacted to the news of these operations?
The community has reacted with fear and anxiety, with many choosing to stay home. The situation has also sparked solidarity, as well as calls for calm and caution against spreading misinformation.