Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs | https://www.dhs.gov/
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained and removed several criminal illegal aliens from Massachusetts, a state with sanctuary policies. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, "Despite sanctuary politicians and activists trying to disrupt ICE operations, our brave law enforcement removed gang members, drug traffickers, and other violent criminals from Massachusetts’ streets."
The operation targeted individuals charged with serious crimes such as soliciting to commit murder, assault on law enforcement, and indecent assault on minors. McLaughlin emphasized that "President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal illegal aliens to roam free, putting the lives of more American citizens in danger."
Among those arrested was Kleber Lasso from Ecuador, convicted of soliciting to commit murder. Senat Dufren from Haiti was apprehended for multiple assaults, including on a pregnant woman. Other arrests included Elismar Alves Ferreira from Brazil for assaulting a police officer and Carlos Araujo from Uruguay for indecent assault on a minor.
ICE also arrested Mario Nolasco Lopez from Guatemala, who had been deported four times previously. Romulo Ivan Morocho from Ecuador faced charges related to aggravated assault and kidnapping.
Gang members were also among those detained. Irwin Alexander Martinez and Noe Pena Garcia, both linked to the MS-13 gang from El Salvador, were taken into custody. Moises Amadeo Diaz-Rosales and Yandal Diaz Rosales were identified as 18th Street gang members.
Drug trafficking charges led to the arrest of Rafael Tejada Alcantara from the Dominican Republic and Yoanny Roldan Zapata from Colombia. Lusbel Lopez Feliz faced multiple charges related to heroin/fentanyl distribution in Massachusetts.
Lastly, Sergey Ivashkevich was arrested under an Interpol Red Notice for extortion out of Kazakhstan.
