Kansas City ICE officers arrested a Mexican national on Aug. 6 after he was found flying a drone in restricted airspace near Arrowhead Stadium during World Cup festivities.
Jose Garrido-Benitez, 51, was apprehended after federal agents observed him operating a drone within 2.5 miles of the stadium on July 3. Authorities seized the drone and notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which led to his arrest for being unlawfully present in the United States. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive due process under federal law.
Chris Chamberlain, acting Assistant Field Officer Director for ICE Kansas City, said, “I’m proud of our officers and federal partners for identifying this illegal airspace violation and working with us to remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities. This is the result of like-minded agencies dedicated to public service working together to ensure our World Cup guests have the safest experience possible.”
According to ICE, Garrido-Benitez has a history of prior arrests by law enforcement agencies in Kansas and Missouri between 1999 and 2004. He was previously removed from the United States in 2003 but reentered unlawfully—a felony offense—and was convicted of felony forgery in 2004, receiving a five-year sentence in Missouri prison.
ICE officials stated that nearly 70% of their arrests involve individuals charged with or convicted of crimes within the United States. The agency also reported that more than three million illegal aliens have been removed from the country.