WASHINGTON (KWTX) — The Department of Homeland Security has arrested more than 17,500 criminal illegal immigrants under the Laken Riley Act since President Trump took office, officials announced Dec. 24.
The law, signed as Trump’s first piece of legislation, requires federal detention of illegal immigrants accused of theft, burglary, assaulting law enforcement officers and any crime causing death or serious bodily injury.
The act is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student killed by a Venezuelan immigrant and member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
The suspect had been previously arrested and released under the Biden administration in September 2022, then arrested again by New York police for acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 before being released back into communities.
Operation targets violent offenders
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the completion of Operation Angel’s Honor, a 14-day nationwide operation launched in Riley’s memory.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 1,030 criminal illegal immigrants during the operation.
“In honor of Laken Riley, ICE launched Operation Angel’s Honor – in the last 2 weeks alone arresting more than 1,000 criminal illegal aliens under the authority of the Laken Riley Act,” Noem said. “President Trump has empowered us to arrest and remove the millions of violent criminal illegal aliens unleashed on the United States by the previous administration.”
The operation targeted individuals with serious criminal histories across multiple states.
Arrests include repeat offenders
Among those arrested during the operation:
Sergio Luis Hernandez Gonzalez from Cuba, convicted of 17 counts of larceny, two counts of burglary, two counts of selling cocaine, resisting an officer, vehicle theft, fraud and robberyJersson Andrey Poveda Delgado from Colombia, convicted of aggravated assault on a police officer and charged with batteryYaser Garcia Ramirez from the Dominican Republic, convicted of vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit manufacturing and distributing heroin, trespassing and criminal possession of a loaded firearmYorisane Lazo from Cuba, convicted of homicide willful kill with weapon, robbery and robbery street strong-armAntonio Quintana-Rodriguez from Mexico, convicted of rape and illegal entry
Other arrests included individuals convicted of sexual assault, domestic violence, drug trafficking and child endangerment.
“We can never bring Laken back, but we can do everything in our power to bring these heinous criminals to justice,” Noem said. “I am so proud of what our brave men and women of ICE have done to remove these criminals from America’s streets.”
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