U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Miami took custody of Eledoro Valenzuela Rodriguez, a Cuban national with a long record of criminal convictions, on March 24 from the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, according to an April 21 statement. Valenzuela Rodriguez faces pending charges for cocaine possession with intent to sell, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and trespassing.
Valenzuela Rodriguez has had a final removal order since 1980 but was released multiple times by jurisdictions described as sanctuary states, including New York and Maryland. According to ICE, these releases allowed him to accumulate additional convictions and charges over several decades. His offenses include controlled substance possession, weapon possession, dealing cocaine, marijuana possession, firearm possession by a convicted felon, trespassing and alcohol violations.
ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said in the release that sanctuary policies "protect criminals like Valenzuela Rodriguez and enable them to prey on generations of innocent Americans." Lyons added: "These policies don’t make communities safer. They make enforcement more difficult and force federal officers into more dangerous — and more public — situations. ICE will continue to enforce the law, regardless of local politics."
Members of the public are encouraged by ICE to report crimes or suspicious activity through its tip line or online form.
The agency also directs those interested in learning more about its public safety mission to follow updates on social media platforms.
