DHS Hails ICE Arrests of Criminal Illegal Immigrants as ‘Christmas Gift to Americans’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as a “Christmas gift to Americans,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrest of multiple illegal immigrants with serious criminal records across several states. The operation, conducted in the days leading up to the holiday season, focused on individuals convicted of violent offenses including burglary, bank robbery, and aggravated kidnapping.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the agency’s commitment to public safety, stating, “Violent criminal illegal aliens who break our laws have absolutely no business remaining in the United States.” She praised the law enforcement personnel involved for delivering “the best Christmas gift for American families this holiday season: safer communities.”
The arrests, which took place on Thursday, targeted illegal immigrants from countries such as Chile, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras. Among those detained was Jessupe Sandino Berraza-Rivera, a Chilean national linked to the South American Theft Group, a transnational organized crime enterprise. Berraza-Rivera had been convicted of burglary in Santa Ana, California.
Another individual, Luis Enrique Castaneda-Reyes from Colombia, faced a staggering 10 criminal convictions, including bank robbery by force and violent drug-related crimes involving a machine gun, according to court records from the U.S. District Court for New Jersey. Mexican national Elidelfo Castro-Nava was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Further arrests included Juan Emerson Gomez-Sorto of El Salvador, convicted of aggravated assault in Price, Utah, and Jesser Sandoval-Cruz from Honduras, who was convicted of assault of a family or household member. These arrests underscore the agency’s intensified efforts to remove dangerous individuals from communities nationwide.
Since President Donald Trump’s return to office, DHS reports that over 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the United States, a figure the administration attributes to enhanced border security and immigration enforcement policies. The agency has touted what it calls the “most secure border in history,” a claim supported by the ongoing operations targeting criminal illegal aliens.
The recent ICE arrests were part of a broader crackdown that included partnerships with other federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to identify and apprehend illegal immigrants attempting to exploit air travel. DHS Assistant Secretary McLaughlin also addressed concerns about deported U.S. veterans, affirming the agency’s commitment to lawful enforcement while protecting those who have served.
These enforcement actions come amid heightened political debates over immigration policy and border security. Advocates for stricter immigration controls argue that removing criminal illegal aliens improves public safety, while opponents raise concerns about due process and humanitarian considerations.
For more information on immigration enforcement and DHS initiatives, visit the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement websites. Data on border security efforts can be found through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. For broader immigration policy context, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides resources and updates.
As the holiday season progresses, DHS continues to emphasize its mission to protect American communities by enforcing immigration laws and removing individuals who pose a threat to public safety.
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