U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested several individuals with serious criminal histories over the weekend, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The arrests took place between January 16 and 18 in cities across the United States. ICE officers apprehended people with convictions for crimes such as murder, rape, sexual exploitation of minors, child pornography, robbery, burglary, assault on law enforcement officers, and gang-related offenses.
“Our ICE law enforcement never stop fulfilling their mission to make America safe again,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “While Americans were enjoying their weekends, our law enforcement was arresting murderers, pedophiles, rapists, and gang members. Despite a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them, our officers continue to put their lives on the line seven days a week to remove heinous criminals from American neighborhoods.”
Among those arrested were Manuel Matta-Reyes in Baltimore for previous convictions including second degree murder and first-degree rape; Benjamin Zaragoza-Garcia in San Francisco for robbery with gang enhancements; Alfredo Rodriguez-Ordonez in New Orleans for sexual exploitation of a minor and firearm possession by an illegal alien; Ronal Garbey-Jorin in Houston for assault of a family member; Juan Manuel Salinas in Atlanta for larceny of a motor vehicle; Jose Eduardo Choc-Sian in Dallas for sexual battery and soliciting a prostitute; Eubeleo Lopez-Arzate in San Antonio for burglary; Dorelien Frantzcy in Buffalo for burglary; Dilton Merlos-Campos in Los Angeles for burglary; Walace Pereira-Lima in Newark for child pornography; Roni Ayala-Raines in Atlanta for assault by pointing a gun at someone; Bruno Eliazar Guevara-Suazo in Houston for assault on a peace officer; Ehsan Jalal in Los Angeles for robbery; Alexander Alejandro Xol-Pop in Philadelphia for strangulation.
Additionally, ICE San Antonio removed Jose Garcia-Samaniego to Mexico after his conviction for first-degree sexual assault of a minor without consent.
According to the Department of Homeland Security statement, these arrests come amid what they describe as a significant rise—over 1,300%—in assaults against ICE law enforcement personnel.
