DHS Arrests Over 17,500 Illegal Immigrants Under Laken Riley Act in 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping enforcement operation throughout 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has arrested more than 17,500 illegal immigrants under the newly enacted Laken Riley Act, the first legislation signed by President Donald Trump in his second term. Named after Laken Riley, a Georgia college student tragically murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant previously released despite prior arrests, the law mandates mandatory detention and deportation processing for illegal immigrants arrested for certain crimes.
The Laken Riley Act targets individuals arrested for offenses ranging from theft and DUI to violent crimes such as murder, rape, sexual abuse, assault on law enforcement officers, and firearms violations. The law requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain these individuals pending deportation proceedings, even if they have not yet been convicted.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the conclusion of “Operation Angel’s Honor,” a two-week nationwide campaign launched in Riley’s memory to rigorously enforce the new law. The operation alone resulted in the arrest of over 1,000 criminal illegal immigrants, averaging dozens per day. Noem credited President Trump for empowering DHS to pursue millions of criminal illegal immigrants residing in the United States, many of whom were reportedly released into the interior by prior administrations.
“We can never bring Laken back, but we can do everything in our power to bring these heinous criminals to justice,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News Digital. The operation targeted some of the most dangerous offenders, including individuals convicted of multiple felonies. Among those apprehended were Sergio Luis Hernandez Gonzalez of Cuba, convicted on 17 counts of larceny and two counts of cocaine trafficking; Jersson Andrey Poveda Delgado of Colombia, convicted of assaulting a police officer; and Yaser Garcia Ramirez from the Dominican Republic, charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute heroin, domestic violence, and obstruction of law enforcement.
Another notable arrest was Santos Chim-Diego, a Guatemalan national with convictions for resisting arrest and assaulting an officer. These arrests underscore the law’s focus on removing the “worst of the worst,” including murderers and pedophiles, from U.S. communities.
The Department of Homeland Security has emphasized that the Laken Riley Act strengthens enforcement measures by closing loopholes that previously allowed dangerous criminals to evade detention. The act’s mandatory detention provisions represent a significant shift in immigration enforcement policy, aiming to enhance public safety by ensuring that those arrested for serious offenses are not released pending immigration proceedings.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency played a central role in these operations, coordinating arrests and detentions nationwide. ICE officials have reported that the agency’s enhanced authority under the Laken Riley Act has facilitated more efficient processing and removal of criminal illegal immigrants.
While the law has been praised by some for its tough stance on crime and immigration, it has also sparked debate over due process and civil liberties. Critics, including some advocacy groups, argue that mandatory detention without conviction raises constitutional concerns. However, supporters maintain that the law is a necessary response to protect communities from repeat offenders.
As 2025 draws to a close, DHS officials have highlighted the Laken Riley Act as a cornerstone of President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, reflecting a broader effort to prioritize public safety and uphold the rule of law. The agency’s success in arresting thousands of criminal illegal immigrants under this statute marks a notable development in U.S. immigration policy.
For more information on immigration enforcement and the Laken Riley Act, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement page and the ICE removal operations portal.
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