Over the weekend, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out arrests of individuals convicted of serious crimes across the United States, despite an ongoing government shutdown. ICE reported that those taken into custody included people convicted of offenses such as attempted incest, aggravated sexual assault of a child, drug trafficking, burglary, robbery, arson, and assault on a family member.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated: “While Americans enjoyed their weekends, the men and women of ICE were hard at work getting the worst of the worst OUT of our country, including one criminal illegal gang member convicted 25 times for brutal crimes including arson and harming an elderly person. Additionally, ICE arrested pedophiles, drug traffickers, and robbers. Nothing will slow us down—not even the Democrats’ government shutdown.”
Among those arrested was Thao Van Cao from Vietnam, identified as a member of the Asian Cheap Boy gang. He has been convicted 25 times for crimes in California that include flight to avoid prosecution, possession of controlled substances, second degree robbery, cruelty toward the elderly, arson property damage, taking a vehicle without consent, and theft.
Other individuals apprehended include Sergio Alvizures-Abrego from Guatemala for attempted incest in North Carolina; Mario Reyes-Martinez from Mexico for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and related charges in Texas and North Carolina; Jorge Mendoza-Garcia from Mexico for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor in Pennsylvania; Sandra Cano-Videz from Honduras for lascivious acts with a child in Iowa; Arnulfo Marque Hernandez from Mexico for aggravated sexual assault of a child in Texas; Juan Jose Siquina-Cacatzun from Guatemala for sexual abuse and probation violation in Oregon; Rene Matamoro-Mora from Cuba for burglary and sexual assault on a minor in Florida; Juan Deleon-Siquina from Guatemala for sexual abuse in Oregon; Juan Arredondo-Salazar from Mexico for assault causing bodily injury on a family member in Texas; Ricardo Bejar-Montes from Mexico for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in California; Angel Ortega-Velasquez from El Salvador twice listed for burglary and harassment charges in Iowa; Giovanny Palma-Perez from Mexico for vehicle theft and resisting arrest in North Carolina; and Yoisel Landeau-Cespedes from Cuba for theft of property in Texas.
ICE indicated that these operations are part of ongoing efforts to remove individuals convicted of serious crimes regardless of external circumstances such as government funding interruptions.
