U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a new series of arrests involving what federal officials described as the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens from across the country, including individuals convicted of child rape, homicide, domestic violence, and other serious crimes. ICE said the arrests reflect ongoing enforcement efforts focused on removing offenders who pose significant threats to public safety.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said ICE officers continue to prioritize criminal arrests nationwide. “There is nothing that will stop ICE law enforcement from putting American families, American children, and American lives first,” the spokesperson said. The official added that 70% of ICE arrests involve illegal aliens charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin echoed that message, stating that ICE officers “put their lives on the line every single day to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens,” and noting that recent arrests included individuals convicted of child rape, murder, and arson. McLaughlin also cited data showing that a majority of ICE arrests involve criminal offenders.
Below are five of the most serious offenders taken into custody:
Gonzalez-Escamilla, pictured above, has been removed from the United States 13 times and was convicted of multiple offenses, including two counts of driving under the influence of liquor, obstructing police, fraud, and impersonation.
Yefferson Pineda-De Velasquez – El Salvador
Pineda-De Velasquez, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was convicted in Travis County, Texas, of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Santiago Villa-Yanez – Mexico
Villa-Yanez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was convicted in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, of domestic assault and battery by strangulation, resisting an officer, and was charged with shooting with intent to kill.
Ernst Joachim – Haiti
Joachim, a criminal illegal alien from Haiti, was convicted in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, of corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor for sexual purposes.
Eduardo Salgado-Martinez – Mexico
Salgado-Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was convicted in Benton County, Washington, of first-degree rape of a child.
ICE officials said the arrests underscore the agency’s continued focus on locating and removing criminal illegal aliens convicted of serious offenses, emphasizing that enforcement operations will continue nationwide as part of ongoing public safety efforts.
