Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are continuing enforcement operations through the government shutdown—taking violent criminal aliens off the streets while much of Washington remains gridlocked.
Homeland Security officials said this week’s arrests included offenders convicted of sexual assault of a child, negligent homicide, assault, drug trafficking, and carjacking. Despite the shutdown, ICE said its officers are still “removing the worst of the worst” from American communities.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin praised agents for carrying out the operations under difficult conditions. “Our brave ICE law enforcement officers are heroes who risk their lives to remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from American communities,” she said.
Below are five of the worst offenders arrested this week.
1. Angel Gabriel Ramirez-Robles — Mexico
Convicted of sexual assault of a child in Hidalgo County, Texas. Ramirez-Robles was located and taken into ICE custody following his release from state prison. He had previously been flagged for deportation after his conviction.
2. Francisco Felipe-Juan — Guatemala
Convicted of criminally negligent homicide and multiple counts of assault in DeKalb County, Ala. Felipe-Juan remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings after serving his sentence for the fatal offense.
3. Everado Garcia-Martinez — Mexico
A known Barrio Van Nuys gang member was convicted of carjacking and evading a peace officer in Van Nuys, Calif. Garcia-Martinez has an extensive criminal history and had previously been deported before illegally reentering the U.S.
4. Antonio Cervantes-Barberena — Mexico
Convicted in the Southern District of Iowa for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. ICE said Cervantes-Barberena’s case underscores ongoing links between drug trafficking networks and illegal reentry.
5. Nancy Zuleira Aviles-Gomez — Mexico
Convicted of escape from custody in Louisville, Ky. Aviles-Gomez was arrested as part of a fugitive operation targeting previously deported felons who violated court orders.
McLaughlin said ICE agents will continue prioritizing arrests of violent offenders despite political disputes in Washington. “Nothing will deter ICE from making America safe again — not a government shutdown, not terrorist attacks against them, and not bounties for their murders,” she said.
