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ICE Operation “Angel’s Honor” Arrests Over 1,000 Criminal Illegal Immigrants
A 14-day Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation named in honor of murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has resulted in the arrest of more than 1,030 criminal illegal immigrants across the United States.
The operation, codenamed “Angel’s Honor,” concluded successfully on December 23, according to a Monday statement from the Department of Homeland Security. The enforcement action specifically targeted individuals who could be detained under the Laken Riley Act, a law signed by President Donald Trump shortly after he took office this year.
“We can never bring Laken back, but we can do everything in our power to bring these heinous criminals to justice,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the statement. “I am so proud of what our brave men and women of ICE have done to remove these criminals from America’s streets.”
The Laken Riley Act, passed with bipartisan support in January, mandates detention for non-citizens charged with specific crimes including burglary, theft, assault on law enforcement officers, or any crime causing serious bodily injury or death. The legislation was created following the murder of Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, allegedly by Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra earlier in 2024.
Noem stated that Trump “empowered us to arrest and remove the millions of violent criminal illegal aliens unleashed on the United States by the previous administration,” adding that “these criminals will face justice and be removed from our country.”
Among those arrested in the operation were several individuals with serious criminal histories. Jamie Escobar-Mirales, a 37-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was apprehended on December 18. According to ICE, his criminal history includes arrest for two counts of rape of a child. He now faces removal proceedings.
Another arrest included Javier Diaz-Cabrera, 40, also from Mexico, whose criminal history involves illegal sexual contact with a victim under 13 and sexual assault of a victim under 18 by a guardian. Evelyn Martinez-Rodriguez, a 36-year-old Honduran national, was arrested on December 9 with a history of charges including assault-torture/willful abuse of a child and domestic violence.
The operation also netted Fredy Garcia-Canan, a 34-year-old from Guatemala with an outstanding removal order and criminal history including intentional bodily harm with a deadly weapon and endangering a child. Another Guatemalan national, Brandon Barrientos-Garcia, 28, was arrested with a history of assault by strangulation and domestic violence.
Some arrests targeted individuals with longstanding removal orders who had remained in the country. Fernando Manzanares-Cruz, a 40-year-old from El Salvador who had a removal order dating back to 2016, was apprehended on December 16. His criminal history includes assault and battery of a pregnant victim. Even more notably, Mexican national Braulio Rosas-Ayala, 44, had been ordered removed by an immigration judge in 1999 but remained in the country until his arrest during this operation. His record includes arrests for rape and sodomy.
“We named this operation ‘Angel’s Honor’ in honor of the memory of Laken Riley, whose life was tragically cut short by illegal alien crime,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “This operation, while a massive success, also serves as a solemn reminder of the profound impact that immigrant violence and crime can have on victims and their loved ones.”
The operation represents one of the most significant immigration enforcement actions since the Trump administration took office, reflecting its hardline approach to immigration enforcement. ICE has conducted several large-scale operations in recent months as part of the administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
“ICE’s mission,” Lyons added, “is to ensure that no more Americans will fall victim to illegal alien crime.”
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16 Comments
Protecting children from predators is a noble goal, but the specifics of this operation are crucial. I hope the authorities can demonstrate that it was conducted with professionalism, restraint, and respect for civil liberties.
Agreed. The ends don’t always justify the means, especially when dealing with such sensitive matters.
Removing dangerous criminals from communities is important work. But we must be vigilant that the system is not abused and that due process is followed. I hope this operation was conducted with the utmost professionalism.
Well said. Protecting the vulnerable is vital, but not at the expense of civil liberties.
This is certainly a concerning issue, and I’m glad the authorities are taking action. However, the scale and tactics of this operation give me pause. I hope the details will show it was carried out responsibly and ethically.
Good point. Vigilance is needed to ensure the rights of all parties are respected, even in sensitive cases.
Apprehending predators is always welcome news. However, the details and context are important to ensure this was carried out properly and without overreach. I hope the authorities acted with care and respect for the law.
That’s a fair perspective. The rule of law must be upheld, even in sensitive cases like this.
Targeting child predators is a necessary and important task, but the execution of this operation raises some questions. I hope the authorities can provide more details to assure the public that proper procedures were followed.
Exactly. Protecting the vulnerable is crucial, but not at the expense of civil liberties and due process.
Keeping children safe is a noble goal, but the details of how this operation was carried out are crucial. I hope the authorities followed all legal protocols and showed respect for human rights.
Agreed. The ends cannot justify any means, especially when dealing with such sensitive matters.
This is a sobering story. While we must be vigilant in protecting the vulnerable, we must also ensure due process and avoid any abuse of power. Hopefully, this operation was conducted professionally and ethically.
Agreed. Safeguarding the vulnerable is paramount, but the means must also be just and humane.
While I applaud the intent to protect the vulnerable, I have concerns about the potential for abuse or overreach in an operation of this scale. Transparency and accountability are vital to ensure justice is served properly.
Well put. In matters of law enforcement, the process is as important as the outcome.