U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Mar. 30 that officers arrested several individuals over the weekend who were convicted of serious crimes, including gang activity, sexual offenses against children, manslaughter, rape, drug trafficking, and other violent acts.
The announcement highlights ongoing efforts by ICE to remove individuals deemed threats to public safety from communities across the United States.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said, “While Americans were enjoying their weekends, ICE was arresting more dangerous criminals, including an MS-13 gang member, child predators, rapists and drug traffickers.” Bis also said that “ICE will continue arresting public safety threats from our communities and will not allow the Democrats to slow us down from making America safe again. ICE will continue to find, arrest, and deport criminal illegal aliens.”
Among those arrested were Luis Calderon-Martinez of El Salvador—an MS-13 gang member convicted of multiple felonies in New Jersey, Arizona and California; Pedro Antonio Luna of El Salvador—convicted in Virginia for aggravated sexual battery involving a minor; Angel Navarro-Camarillo—a registered sex offender from Mexico with convictions related to child victims in California; Manuel Barboza-Banuelos—convicted of manslaughter in Texas; Higinio Gonzalez Machorro—convicted of rape by use of drugs in California; Pierre Bell—from Jamaica—convicted of rape in New York; as well as others with convictions ranging from domestic violence to drug distribution across various states.
ICE stated that information about additional arrests can be found on its public safety webpage WOW.DHS.Gov.
The agency's actions are part of ongoing law enforcement operations aimed at addressing criminal activity among non-citizens who have been previously convicted for serious offenses.
