A recent human trafficking sting in Florida resulted in the arrest of 157 individuals, including 25 illegal immigrants, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The operation, called “Operation Autumn Sweep,” involved multiple law enforcement agencies across the state. Those arrested face charges related to prostitution, trafficking, and child exploitation.
Among the 157 arrested, 96 individuals were charged with soliciting prostitution. Four victims of human trafficking were identified, with two of them having been smuggled into the U.S. and forced to pay traffickers thousands of dollars.
Sheriff Judd highlighted the involvement of 25 illegal immigrants in the arrests, many of whom received federal benefits upon entering the U.S. “Sixteen percent of these total arrests were people who should not even have been in this country,” Judd stated, pointing out the strain illegal immigration places on local communities and taxpayers.
Judd shared the story of a woman from Venezuela who crossed the border illegally with her child and received free housing and transportation, paid for by U.S. taxpayers. He used this example to criticize the federal government’s approach to border security and immigration, arguing that the lack of enforcement is contributing to human trafficking.
Despite the early conclusion of the operation due to Hurricane Milton, Judd praised the swift action of law enforcement. The arrests have sparked a larger conversation about illegal immigration, human trafficking, and the role of government in addressing these critical issues.