Acting on reports of fishing violations, immigration officers caught 14 illegal aliens last month in northern Michigan.
Operation Fresh Catch took place Oct. 10 in the Cadillac and Manistee areas and targeted fishing violators on public lands, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE, working with the U.S. Forest Service, arrested 14 individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico who were in violation of U.S. immigration laws.
ICE announced the arrests Nov. 6. One person had a conviction for driving under the influence and three had previously been deported and had their removal orders reinstated, the agency said in a news release.
In addition, one is an immigration absconder who now has a final order of removal. Another person failed to depart the United States voluntarily and has been issued a final order of removal, according to the release.
U.S. Forest Service officers reported finding an increased number of fishing violations by foreign nationals without proper identification, ICE officials said.
The agency did not release the names of the individuals, specify the locations or the arrests or other details of the fishing violations. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit assisted with the operation.
“ERO will continue working with the U.S. Forest Service and other law enforcement partners to safeguard Michigan’s public lands, protect natural resources and uphold federal immigration laws,” ERO Detroit Field Office Director Matthew Putra said.
The individuals arrested were transported to the North Lake Processing Center, where they will remain pending further immigration proceedings.
Immigration officers have been spotted in other parts of the state, including metro Detroit and West Michigan, in recent weeks.
Operation Fresh Catch highlights how investigations involving fishing violations and natural resource regulations can lead to broader federal law enforcement actions.
🇺🇸Thank you @ICEgov for capturing these 14 illegals from our beautiful lakes, Michigan fishermen stand with you.
God bless each and every ome of you. 🙏🤗❤️🤍💙https://t.co/tcA0RrqJTj— Laura Kennedy (@lauraekennnedy) November 7, 2026
“Our coordinated efforts promote public safety and help ensure that those who violate immigration laws are held accountable,” Putra said.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by calling (866) DHS-2-ICE (347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
