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DHS Arrests “Worst of the Worst” Criminal Illegal Immigrants During Presidents Day Weekend Sweep
Federal immigration officials conducted a nationwide operation over Presidents Day weekend, apprehending numerous illegal immigrants with serious criminal histories, particularly those convicted of crimes against children, according to Department of Homeland Security officials.
The operation targeted individuals with convictions for child sexual abuse, possession of child pornography, domestic assault, assault with deadly weapons, stalking, and drug trafficking, as part of ongoing enforcement efforts across the country.
“Over President’s Day weekend, the brave men and women of ICE arrested heinous criminal illegal aliens across the country convicted for sex crimes against children, rape, and drug trafficking,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “These violent criminals will never be allowed to harm children and innocent Americans again.”
McLaughlin noted that “nearly 70%” of ICE arrests involve illegal immigrants either charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States, emphasizing the agency’s focus on public safety threats.
Among those arrested was Efren Guzman-Lopez, a Guatemalan national apprehended in Texas following a conviction for indecency with a child through sexual contact and child grooming. In California, authorities arrested Javier Millan-Salgado, a Mexican national convicted of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and registered as a sex offender.
Several other individuals were taken into custody across multiple states for sexual offenses involving minors. In Missouri, Pedro Jucub was arrested for “sexual misconduct” with a child under the age of 15, while additional arrests for acts of sexual abuse and assault occurred in New York and Salt Lake City.
Drug trafficking represented another significant category among the weekend arrests. Alfredo Vargas and Wilfrido Varelas-Rubio, both from Mexico, were previously convicted of trafficking methamphetamine in Iowa and Montana respectively before being detained by ICE. Ever Rivera-Molina, a Honduran national, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine in Texas prior to his arrest.
On the East Coast, authorities in Raleigh, North Carolina, apprehended Hermilio Salgado-Castro, a Mexican national previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. In Texas, ICE arrested Saul Alonzo Portillo-Lopez, who had a prior conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
The weekend operation also targeted individuals with records of violent crime. In Saratoga County, New York, Gerson Valverde, from Nicaragua, was arrested following convictions for felony assault, felony aggravated family offense, and misdemeanor stalking. Francisco Gamez-Martinez, a Mexican national, was apprehended in Lakeland, Florida, after being convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The Department of Homeland Security has established a dedicated website at WOW.DHS.Gov where the public can learn about immigration enforcement actions in their communities. According to the website, “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”
These enforcement operations come amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration policy. In some cities, community activists have organized to monitor and protest ICE operations, including using whistles to alert neighborhoods to enforcement activities.
The current administration has emphasized a focus on removing individuals with criminal histories as a priority in its immigration enforcement strategy. Officials maintain that these targeted operations aim to enhance public safety while implementing the administration’s broader immigration policies.
As federal immigration operations continue nationwide, authorities indicate they will maintain focus on apprehending and removing individuals they consider significant public safety threats from American communities.
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14 Comments
While the focus on sex offenders and violent criminals is understandable, I hope ICE is also targeting white-collar criminals and those involved in human trafficking. All dangerous illegal immigrants should be a priority.
Good point. Tackling the full spectrum of criminal activity should be the goal.
Curious to know more details on the operation – what crimes were the arrested individuals convicted of, and how many were apprehended in total? Transparency is important here.
Yes, more information on the specifics of the arrests would help provide context.
Glad to see ICE cracking down on criminal illegal immigrants, especially those convicted of sex crimes against children. Public safety should be the top priority.
Absolutely. Protecting innocent Americans, especially the most vulnerable, is critical.
Enforcing immigration laws and protecting public safety are both important, but we must ensure the process is fair and doesn’t violate civil liberties. Transparency is key.
Well said. Finding the right balance is critical in these sensitive matters.
Kudos to ICE for their efforts, but I’m skeptical of claims about the percentage of arrests involving criminals. More verifiable data would be helpful to assess the true impact.
Agreed, quantifiable evidence is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of these operations.
While immigration enforcement is important, I hope ICE is also focused on due process and not unfairly targeting individuals. We need a balanced approach that upholds the law while respecting civil liberties.
Good point. Upholding the rule of law and human rights are both essential.
Removing dangerous criminals from our communities, regardless of immigration status, is a positive step. However, we must ensure the process is fair and humane.
I agree. Balancing public safety with civil liberties is always a challenge.