As Michiganders celebrated the Thanksgiving weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continued work around the clock to give them something to be thankful for.
The Department of Homeland Security on Monday highlighted the arrests of numerous rapists, pedophiles, and murderers over the holiday weekend, including at least one child sex abuser in Michigan.
“While Americans enjoyed a long holiday weekend with their families and friends, ICE law enforcement was hard at work arresting rapists, child sex abusers and murderers,” an unidentified DHS spokesperson said in a statement.
“Every American should be grateful to our law enforcement officers for putting their lives on the line each and every day to remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” the statement read. “Despite what the media and sanctuary politicians claim, 70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S.”
Listed among those nabbed during the Thanksgiving break is Mario Ynfante-Querol, an illegal immigrant from Cuba with a conviction for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim between the ages of 13 and 15.
DHS did not provide any context on Ynfante-Querol’s arrest, but details on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry show the 44-year-old worked in Grand Rapids. He was convicted of the child sex crime in Kent County’s 17th Circuit Court in April 2002, according to the site.
Detroit Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Morris posted to X about the arrest of a Cuban national last week, though it’s unclear whether it was in reference to Ynfante-Querol.
On Monday, Gibraltar Station agents, in partnership with local law enforcement, arrested a Special Interest Alien (SIA) from Cuba in Melvindale, Mich. SIAs are illegal aliens from a country that poses an enhanced security threat to the United States. The subject will be processed… pic.twitter.com/Yn8fBJmMEz
— Chief Patrol Agent John R.Morris (@USBPChiefDTM) November 26, 2025
“On Monday, Gibraltar Station agents, in partnership with local law enforcement, arrested a Special Interest Alien (SIA) from Cuba in Melvindale, Mich.,” Morris wrote on Nov. 26. “SIAs are illegal aliens from a country that poses an enhanced security threat to the United States. The subject will be processed for #deportation from the U.S.
“#DetroitSector-wide, agents arrested 8 illegal aliens on Nov. 24,” according to Morris.
The other Michigan arrests included four illegal immigrants from Honduras in Traverse City, one of which was previously deported.
DHS pointed to plenty more criminal illegal immigrants arrested across the country over the Thanksgiving weekend.
They included Wilson Gonzalez-Bravo, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of indecent liberties with a child in Chatham County, NC, and Balbir Singh, a criminal illegal alien from India, convicted of murder in Los Angeles, California.
Others from Laos, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Cuba, Russia, and Jamacia were previously convicted of crimes including aggravated rape, vehicular homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, fourth-degree assault, aggravated assault, assault causing bodily injury to a family member, aggravated arson, cocaine possession, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, felony embezzlement, first-degree burglary, and burglary.
Beyond Michigan, California and North Carolina, others were arrested in New Jersey, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, Florida, Delaware, and New York, according to DHS.
While ICE is removing many illegal immigrants in Michigan and beyond, federal officials are also promoting a “Home for the Holidays: Self-Deport Program” to encourage more to return on their own terms.
Morris provided the details in a post to X on Monday.
Take advantage of U.S. Border Patrol’s yuletide special: “Home for the Holidays: Self-Deport Program"
Key benefits include:
•$1,000 exit bonus. Return home with money in your pocket!
•Keeps your options open. Leaving on your own terms allows you to potentially return…— Chief Patrol Agent John R.Morris (@USBPChiefDTM) December 1, 2025
“Key benefits include:
- $1,000 exit bonus. Return home with money in your pocket!
- Keeps your options open. Leaving on your own terms allows you to potentially return later … LEGALLY!
- Bypasses detention and the hassles of forced deportation.
- Families fly together – and for free!
To learn more, email [email protected], download the CBP Home app, call 1-877-227-5511, or go to dhs.gov/cbphome,” Morris wrote.
