Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently took significant actions against two individuals accused of serious crimes. ICE offices in New York City and Memphis placed immigration detainers on these individuals, who have been charged with serious offenses.
The first case involves Enoc Martinez, from Honduras, who was taken into custody in Shelby County, Tennessee. Martinez faces five counts of attempted first-degree murder related to a shooting in Memphis. This incident resulted in two individuals being hospitalized. Martinez entered the United States illegally in June 2014 as an unaccompanied minor. After being apprehended by Border Patrol, he was handed over to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and eventually placed with a sponsor in Memphis, Tennessee. Despite a final order of removal issued in 2022, he remained in the country, leading ICE to lodge an immigration detainer following the recent events.
The second individual, Felix Rojas, is reported to have repeatedly entered the United States illegally since 1998. He was arrested in New York City and charged with rape and grand larceny following an incident involving the desecration of a corpse in a subway near Whitehall Street Station in Manhattan. ICE in New York City placed an immigration detainer against Rojas on April 30.
Assistant Secretary Tricia Mclaughlin commented on the situation, stating: "With impunity open border policies have allowed violent criminal aliens to terrorize America’s towns and cities. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem’s leadership, ICE is working around the clock to remove the worst of the worst from our communities. If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up."
Both cases illustrate ICE's ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration issues and remove those deemed a threat to community safety.
