U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced two back-to-back arrests in North Carolina of convicted violent offenders from Mexico, actions the agency said were part of its ongoing public-safety enforcement work. Officials said the cases—made on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8—reflect efforts to target offenders whose crimes have harmed local communities.
On Sept. 8, officers took Jonathan Venegas-Garcia, 26, into custody following his conviction in Iredell County for assault inflicting serious bodily injury. According to the agency, Venegas-Garcia received a sentence of 15 to 27 months in prison for that offense.
A day earlier, on Sept. 7, officers arrested Carlos Guzman-Santiago, 45, in Polk County. The agency reported that Guzman-Santiago was convicted of a second-degree forcible sex offense and sentenced to a term of 58 to 130 months in prison.
Both arrests were announced by the agency’s Atlanta field office, which oversees enforcement activity in North Carolina. Taken together, the cases underscore the agency’s stated focus on offenders with violent or sexual convictions—particularly those with recent sentences handed down by local courts. The consecutive arrests also highlight coordination with county authorities, who adjudicated the underlying cases before immigration officers took the individuals into custody.
Officials did not release additional biographical details or charging information beyond the abovementioned convictions and sentences. The agency said both arrests are part of broader efforts to protect residents by prioritizing individuals whose criminal conduct presents risks to public safety.
As is standard, immigration enforcement is a civil process that is separate from the defendants’ state criminal cases and sentences. Any subsequent proceedings will determine the individuals’ immigration status under federal law.
