ICE reports arrests of undocumented immigrants with violent crime convictions over Independence Day weekend
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it detained several undocumented individuals with murder, sexual assault and drug trafficking convictions during a nationwide operation over the July 4 holiday.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a number of undocumented immigrants with prior convictions for violent and sexual offenses during a nationwide sweep over the Independence Day weekend. Among those taken into custody were individuals convicted of murder and assault in New York, second-degree murder and kidnapping in North Carolina, as well as multiple sexual abuse offenses involving minors in Kentucky. Additional arrests involved convictions for methamphetamine and heroin distribution, robbery and aggravated stalking in several states.
ICE officials said the operation was part of an ongoing effort to remove criminal undocumented immigrants, noting that the agency has increased its workforce in recent months. The department highlighted that the arrests occurred while many Americans were observing the holiday.
"Sanctuary city politicians who put illegal alien criminals over their own citizens are a national security threat," wrote DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin on social media.
The arrests come as the administration continues its broader immigration enforcement strategy, which includes heightened focus on individuals with criminal histories and ongoing disputes with jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
