U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement New Orleans recently arrested Roberto Cordona, a Mexican national, following a conviction for manufacturing and delivering controlled substances. Cordona has been removed from the community and placed in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
ICE New Orleans posted a tweet stating: “DRUG DEALER ARRESTED: ICE New Orleans arrested Roberto Cordona of Mexico. His criminal record includes a conviction for Manufacturing/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, sentenced to 3 years. This criminal illegal alien will no longer push poison to our communities.”
According to the post, Cordona was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted in a state court for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. The specifics of the substance or quantity were not disclosed in the ICE release.
Cordona’s arrest underscores the agency’s ongoing enforcement mission to remove criminal aliens who pose threats to public safety. It also highlights coordination between ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations in targeting individuals with criminal records.
Cordona will remain in ICE custody pending removal. His conviction and arrest follow a broader pattern of ICE prioritizing individuals with serious criminal convictions—especially those involving illegal drugs. Federal officials have repeatedly emphasized that criminal illegal aliens cannot remain in the country when convicted of offenses that harm communities.
No further details about his current location or further charges were included in ICE’s public statement, and no information suggests whether additional criminal charges are pending. ICE has not released details on the timing of his arrest or whether any local jurisdictions declined to honor detainers.
This arrest contributes to ongoing debates about immigration enforcement policy in sanctuary jurisdictions. Advocates on the right argue that such operations are necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect communities from convicted offenders. Critics on the left often describe enforcement efforts as excessive or harmful to migrant communities at large—but Cordona’s criminal conviction places him squarely within ICE’s public safety priorities.
Cordona remains detained while ICE moves forward with removal proceedings in federal immigration court. The agency’s public messaging emphasizes that this arrest removes a repeat offender and serves notice that serious criminals will be identified and subject to deportation.
