Disney World Faced with ICE: Agents Arrive in Orlando, Hundreds Detained

Orlando is supposed to be where you worry about whether your Lightning Lane return time conflicts with your dinner reservation at Be Our Guest, not whether you have enough documentation to prove you’re legally in the country while buying Mickey ears at Disney Springs.

But right now, Central Florida is dealing with a situation that’s making even U.S. citizens and legal residents nervous about basic trips outside their homes, and it’s affecting way more than just undocumented immigrants.

ICE has been spotted all over the Orlando area, confirmed reports show they toured a massive warehouse in Orange County as a potential detention facility, U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost confirmed they’ve booked a ton of hotel rooms locally, and the Orange County jail has processed over 800 immigration-related bookings since January started.

Governor DeSantis announced that “Operation Tidal Wave” has resulted in more than 10,000 arrests, and whether you think that’s good policy or terrifying enforcement, the reality is that people who are legally here are scared. A Reddit post from a Central Florida resident perfectly captures what’s happening on the ground: a U.S.-born citizen with a mother who has a valid green card and passport describing how their entire family is now carrying extra documentation, using ICE tracking maps like they’re avoiding COVID hotspots, and basically staying home unless absolutely necessary despite being completely legal.

This isn’t fear-mongering or exaggeration. These are confirmed facts from legitimate news sources and statements from elected officials, and the situation is affecting tourists planning Disney vacations along with residents just trying to live their normal lives.

What’s Actually Confirmed and Not Just Rumors

Click Orlando sent reporters to cover ICE representatives touring a warehouse facility on Transport Drive in southeast Orange County. This isn’t speculation or hearsay, journalists were literally there watching it happen. The building sits in International Corporate Park near the interchange between State Road 528 and State Road 417, contains about 440,000 square feet of space, and was completed in 2024. To put that in perspective, it’s half the size of Orlando’s Kia Center and nearly three times bigger than “Alligator Alcatraz,” the existing immigration detention facility in the Everglades that holds around 3,000 people.

David Venturella, a senior adviser with ICE, told reporters they were in an “exploratory stage” and wouldn’t say how many people the facility might hold. That’s government speak for “we’re looking at this seriously but we’re not ready to commit to specifics publicly.”

Representative Maxwell Frost, who represents Orlando, confirmed on the record that ICE made “pretty large” hotel reservations in Central Florida. Not small bookings, not a few rooms, pretty large reservations. The Orange County Corrections Department reported 831 bookings with immigration holds at the county jail since January 1. That’s over 800 people processed through the system in less than three weeks, which is a lot.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security gave a statement that basically said “we enforce immigration law everywhere and we’re not discussing future operations,” but also mentioned 40,000 arrests in Florida and 550 in New Orleans as examples of their “tremendous success.” That’s their framing, not ours, but those are the official numbers they’re citing.

Governor DeSantis announced “Operation Tidal Wave,” which started last April working with DHS, has hit 10,000 arrests. Whether the current increased ICE presence relates specifically to that operation isn’t clear, but the timing suggests they’re connected.

These are facts. Confirmed by news outlets, elected officials, and government agencies. Not rumors, not speculation, actual documented information.

How Real People Are Reacting and Why They’re Scared

A Reddit post from a Central Florida resident lays out exactly what life looks like right now for people who are legally here but nervous about ICE activity. The poster is a U.S.-born citizen. Their mother has a green card that doesn’t expire plus a passport from her native country. Despite being completely legal, the family is now carrying extra ID everywhere, using ICE tracking maps to avoid certain areas, and basically living like it’s COVID lockdown again by staying home as much as possible.

The poster described their family as “evidently ethnic looking” and said they’re “genuinely frightened” despite having every right to be here. They asked how much of their fear is justified versus overblown, which is a reasonable question when you’re legal but still scared to leave your house.

The responses to that Reddit post reveal this isn’t an isolated reaction. One Puerto Rican respondent, who is a U.S. citizen by birth, said they don’t leave home without their passport anymore despite having no accent. They’re dark-skinned and “look Hispanic,” and even though most Hispanics in Orlando are Puerto Rican and therefore automatic U.S. citizens, they’re expecting “grab first and question later” approaches from ICE.

Another commenter said attorneys are scared and carrying their documentation. Attorneys. People who understand the legal system professionally are nervous enough to change their behavior. This person also identified as Iranian American and referenced what happened when tensions flared between the U.S. and Iran, saying people who’d been here legally for 30 years got detained regardless of their status.

Someone else mentioned a 15-year-old autistic child who was reportedly held in ICE detention for 50 days before being released. They referenced a case involving someone named Renee Good who was white and a citizen, making the point that citizenship doesn’t guarantee you won’t get caught up in enforcement operations.

These aren’t anonymous internet trolls making stuff up. These are people describing how current conditions are affecting their actual lives and explaining why they’re changing their routines despite being legally in the country.

What Politicians Are Saying About All This

State Representative Anna Eskamani, who represents Orlando, told Click Orlando she has “complete opposition” to the potential detention facility, calling it “an awful, terrible idea.” She said her office is currently helping Florida residents who got detained at their immigration appointments despite following all the rules they were told to follow. “I have a very large caseload right now of everyday Floridians that have been detained at their immigration appointments, following all of the rules they were told to follow,” Eskamani said.

U.S. Representative Darren Soto, who represents Kissimmee, released a statement saying his office reached out to ICE about the facility and is tracking constituent reports about ICE agents in the district. “We oppose locating these facilities in our community, given the history of abuses and tearing local families apart,” Soto’s statement said.

Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini had a completely different take, saying an ICE facility in Orlando is “long overdue” and would help with jail overcrowding. “I’m sure it will be a controversial idea, but I think it’s common sense. I think it’s smart logistically,” Sabatini said. He pointed out that county jails are basically full and that federal reimbursement for holding immigration detainees doesn’t cover the costs, leaving taxpayers to make up the difference.

So you’ve got elected officials on completely opposite sides of this issue, which reflects how divisive immigration enforcement is generally. But regardless of which perspective you agree with, the enforcement activity is happening and affecting people’s lives right now.

What This Means If You’re Planning a Disney Trip

Here’s the reality for tourists: Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and other theme parks are still operating normally. There haven’t been reports of ICE activity inside the parks affecting guests. You’re not going to get stopped while waiting in line for Space Mountain or eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

However, if you’re traveling to Orlando right now, especially if you’re someone who might be perceived as Hispanic, Latino, or from a nationality that’s being targeted in enforcement operations, you need to think about documentation in ways you probably didn’t consider when you booked your trip months ago.

U.S. citizens should carry ID, which most tourists already do for driving, hotel check-in, and park entry purposes. Some U.S. citizens are choosing to carry passports or birth certificates as additional proof of citizenship. That’s a personal decision based on your comfort level and how you assess your risk of being questioned.

International visitors already have to carry passports for being in the U.S. in the first place, so this doesn’t change much for you beyond the general awareness that immigration enforcement is more active in the area than usual.

The Reddit poster’s experience shows that even people who are completely legal are nervous and changing their behavior. A U.S. citizen carrying their passport just to go to Target or Disney Springs isn’t normal Orlando life, but it’s what some residents feel is necessary right now based on the confirmed ICE presence in the area.

The Uncomfortable Reality Nobody Wants in a Vacation Article

Nobody wants to write or read about immigration enforcement when they’re planning a Disney vacation. You want articles about the best quick service restaurants, how to maximize Genie+, and whether the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is worth the hype. You don’t want to think about whether you have enough documentation to prove you’re legally in the country while you’re trying to enjoy your expensive vacation.

But ignoring the situation doesn’t make it go away, and tourists deserve to know what’s happening in the area they’re visiting. The confirmed ICE activity, the detention facility tour, the hotel reservations, the 800+ bookings at the county jail, the 10,000 arrests from Operation Tidal Wave – these are facts reported by legitimate news outlets and confirmed by government officials.

The vast majority of Disney tourists will have completely normal vacations focused on rides, food, and character meet-and-greets without any immigration enforcement encounters. That’s true. Most people visiting won’t be affected at all. But “most people” isn’t everyone, and the residents and visitors who are nervous have legitimate reasons based on confirmed information rather than unfounded paranoia.

The political debate about whether this enforcement is good policy or human rights violations isn’t something we’re going to resolve here. People have strong opinions on both sides, elected officials are publicly divided, and national discourse on immigration is as polarized as every other political issue.

What You Should Actually Do

If you’re visiting Orlando for Disney World or Universal and you’re legally in the country, carry your normal ID like you would anywhere else. If you want to carry additional documentation like a passport or birth certificate for extra peace of mind, that’s your choice based on your personal risk assessment.

If you’re an international visitor, you already have to carry your passport and visa documentation, so just continue doing what you’re supposed to be doing anyway.

Stay informed through reliable news sources about what’s happening locally. Click Orlando and other legitimate local news outlets are covering this situation as it develops. Elected representatives are making statements. Government agencies are providing official information. Use those sources rather than relying solely on social media rumors.

If you have specific concerns about your immigration status or potential enforcement encounters, talk to an immigration attorney before traveling. That’s professional legal advice that social media posts and theme park blogs cannot provide.

The theme parks are operating normally, the rides are running, the restaurants are serving food, and millions of tourists will visit Central Florida this year and have great vacations. The ICE activity is real and confirmed, but it doesn’t mean every tourist is going to have enforcement encounters or that Disney World has turned into some kind of immigration checkpoint.

Be informed, carry appropriate documentation, make decisions based on your individual circumstances, and understand that this is part of the current reality in Central Florida whether anyone likes it or not. This isn’t the fun vacation content anyone wants, but pretending the situation doesn’t exist doesn’t help tourists make informed decisions about their travel plans. The facts are what they are, the enforcement activity is confirmed and documented, and being aware of the situation is just part of responsible travel planning in 2026.