U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the arrest of 24 illegal aliens in Manitowoc County, Wisc., following an intelligence-driven operation targeting a suspected human trafficking and drug trafficking ring. Officials said the arrests came after information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which was interviewing victims—including children—linked to the criminal network.
The Sept. 25 operation brought together ICE, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service. According to ICE, those arrested included individuals with convictions for crimes such as sexual assault of a child, DUI, hit and run, identity theft, and narcotics possession.
“While interviewing victims—many of whom were children—of a human trafficking and drug trafficking ring, ICE identified multiple illegal aliens. In total, ICE arrested 24 illegal aliens, including those convicted of sexually assaulting a child, hit and run, DUI, identity theft, and possession of narcotic equipment,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “President Trump and Secretary Noem are dismantling transnational criminal networks and putting the safety of American children FIRST.”
Among those arrested was Honduran national Jose Hilario Moreno Portillo, who had previously been removed from the United States in 2020 but was arrested again in May 2025 for sexually assaulting a child.
Mexican national Abraham Maldanado Almanza was convicted of identity theft.
Honduran national Roel Francisco Monroy Orellana was convicted of hit and run and multiple traffic offenses.
Two Nicaraguan nationals, Darvin Uriel Villavicencio
and Erlin Joel Villavicencio,
were taken into custody with convictions ranging from disorderly conduct and multiple DUIs to a pending charge for failure to appear in court.
Also arrested was Honduran national Christian Naun Diaz-Alfaro, convicted of narcotics possession and driving under the influence.
ICE officials said the operation underscores its priority of targeting criminal aliens with ties to transnational criminal organizations, particularly those who exploit children. Federal officials added that the arrests reflect the Trump administration’s broader strategy of dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring that offenders are removed from American communities.
