Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs | https://www.dhs.gov/
Esteban Rios, a Mexican national, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being charged with domestic violence and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2020. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Rios had illegally entered the United States multiple times, which is classified as a felony.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “This criminal illegal alien has charges for domestic violence, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and has zero legal status to be in the United States in the first place. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you break the law, you will face the consequences. Criminal illegal aliens are NOT welcome in the United States.”
DHS reported that Rios was deported in 1999 after entering the country unlawfully. He reentered illegally and left voluntarily in 2005 after being apprehended again. In 2020, following his third illegal entry, an immigration judge ordered his removal.
The department also addressed recent media coverage from outlets such as the Associated Press and The New York Post, asserting that these reports inaccurately described Rios’s background by omitting his criminal record and overstating his legal status. DHS clarified that neither Rios nor his wife had valid work authorization or any legal basis to remain in the United States.
The agency emphasized its commitment to enforcing immigration laws, stating that individuals without legal status who commit crimes will be subject to detention and removal.
