ERO Salt Lake City arrests 8 noncitizens with sex offense convictions as part of nation-wide law enforcement effort

SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers apprehended eight unlawfully present noncitizen sex offenders as part of a nation-wide law enforcement effort that netted 275 noncitizens that ran from Feb. 5 to Feb. 16.

“Those who prey on children are the worst of the worst, and ERO prioritizes these foreign nationals for removal from our community,” said ERO Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke. “We will use our immigration authority to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable population.”

Today’s announcement follows a nationwide enforcement effort in January, during which 275 individuals presenting a threat to public safety were arrested. By using an intelligence-driven enforcement model, ERO makes efficient use of limited resources to promote public safety in communities across the United States.

Those arrested include:

• A 47-year-old citizen of Mexico in Magna who was convicted of child molestation.
• A 38-year-old citizen of Mexico in Las Vegas, Nevada, who was convicted of soliciting a child for prostitution.
• A 32-year-old citizen of Cuba in Clark County, Nevada, who was convicted of kidnapping, battery with intent to commit sexual assault, sexual assault and coercion.

ICE focuses on the arrests of noncitizens who have committed crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws. ICE officers, with their extensive experience and training, use their inherent discretion as law enforcement officials to focus enforcement resources on those who pose a threat to national security, public safety or border security. These efforts include noncitizens with final orders of removal. Cases amenable to federal criminal prosecution may be presented to the appropriate U.S. attorney’s office.

In fiscal year 2023, ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 290,178 associated charges and convictions with an average of four per individual. These included 33,209 assaults; 4,390 sex and sexual assaults; 7,520 weapons offenses; 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide; and 1,655 kidnapping offenses.

The Salt Lake City area of operations includes Utah, Nevada, Montana and Idaho. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form. Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROSaltLakeCity.