U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posted a series of tweets on February 16, 2026, addressing issues related to criminal activity by undocumented immigrants, sanctuary jurisdictions, and Presidents' Day.
In a tweet published at 02:05 UTC, ICE reported the sentencing of an individual from El Salvador: "Jose Alejandro Alvarado, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a sexual assault conviction and has pending sexual assault charges in Nebraska."
Later that day at 17:00 UTC, ICE urged residents in certain areas to advocate for policy changes regarding cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The agency stated: "If you live in a sanctuary jurisdiction, tell your lawmakers and community leaders to change their policies. Your local jail could hold criminal illegal aliens for ICE instead of releasing them into your community."
At 21:36 UTC on the same day, ICE acknowledged the national holiday with a message reading: "Happy Presidents' Day, America!"
Sanctuary jurisdictions are local or state governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE. These policies can include restricting local law enforcement from honoring detainer requests or sharing information about individuals’ immigration status.
The tweets reflect ongoing debates over public safety and immigration enforcement in the United States. ICE is responsible for enforcing federal laws governing border control and immigration.
