Federal immigration enforcement has reached the milestone of 5,000 arrests of illegals in Los Angeles, the Trump administration announced this week.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a statement Tuesday pledged that “this is just the beginning.”
The 5,000th illegal arrested in the city since the Trump administration began ramping up operations there was Gustavo Garcia-Miranda, a convicted drug trafficker and felon in the U.S. illegally since 2008, according to DHS.
Today, @DHSgov made its 5,000th arrest in Los Angeles.
That’s 5,000 criminal illegal aliens, gang members, child predators, and murderers taken off our streets. Precious lives saved. Families protected. American taxpayers spared the cost of their crimes AND the burden of their…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) August 26, 2025
“That’s 5,000 criminal illegal aliens, gang members, child predators, and murderers taken off our streets,” Noem said. “Precious lives saved. Families protected. American taxpayers spared the cost of their crimes AND the burden of their benefits. THANK YOU to our brave law enforcement officers.”
“Make no mistake: if you are here illegally, we will find you, arrest you, and send you back,” she added. “This is just the beginning.”
Federal immigration enforcement agencies have faced protests and riots, including near Los Angeles in July while trying to execute a search warrant for alleged child labor and illegal worker violations at marijuana grow facilities.
President Donald Trump in June deployed 2,000 California National Guard troops around the city to restore order amidst riots.
“Violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California. These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the time.
