News Releases and Statements

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem joined ICE and federal law enforcement partners in apprehending three illegal aliens during an enhanced targeted enforcement operation focusing on criminal illegal alien offenders in Phoenix, Arizona, to bolster public safety, national security and border security, April 8.

Officers with ICE Boston arrested Carlos Antonio Zepeda-Ruiz in Hartford Feb. 27.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Tomas Jesus Yarrington Ruvalcaba, 68, a citizen of Mexico wanted by Mexican authorities, April 9.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces interdicted and announced the seizure of more than 44,550 pounds of cocaine and 3,880 pounds marijuana valued at approximately $509.9 million as part of the joint multiagency Panama Express Strike Force mission in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Officers with ICE Boston and agents from DEA New England and ATF Boston arrested Gilberto Avila-Jara, 64, in Lawrence April 1.

Each individual has been charged with aggravated identity theft, misuse of Social Security numbers, and false statements regarding citizenship with the intent to engage unlawfully in employment.

ICE arrested Elieser Aurelio Gomez-Zelaya, 33, an illegal alien from Honduras, March 31.

Francisco Alvarez-Tello, 28, of Ocala, pled guilty on Oct. 24, 2024, and was sentenced April 1 to 12 years in federal prison.

ICE removed Hedilberto Nunez Garay, a 41-year-old illegal alien, to his home country of Mexico, April 9. Nunez is wanted in Durango, Mexico, for aggravated homicide for allegedly murdering Eladio Carrasco Corral, a 63-year-old Mexican national, Sept. 3, 2020.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay.

ICE, the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Jesus Alberto Escalona-Mujicas, a 47-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela and documented Tren de Aragua gang member, April 9, in Bryan, Texas.

ICE HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Murphy and acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on April 2, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Jonathan Michael Atkinson, age 34, with 11 criminal counts including Sex Trafficking Children, Production and Attempted Production of Child Pornography, Online Enticement of a Minor, and Forced Labor, following an ICE HSI, law enforcement partner investigation.

Nestor Adiel Salamanca, 32, was removed to Mexico by ICE officials and turned over to authorities in his home country March 31.

ICE announced April 4 the results of interagency enforcement operations targeting illegal aliens present in Georgia.

ICE removed Josseth Santos-Fonseca, 30, a citizen of Costa Rica, to his home country where he is wanted by law enforcement authorities for drug trafficking.

ICE arrested Abel Osbaldo Mendez, a 29-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala with convictions for sexual battery of a child and illegal reentry upon his release from U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville in Orange County, New York, March 28.

ICE, working with federal law enforcement partners from the Bureau of ATFE; U.S. DEA; and the Diplomatic Security Service, apprehended an illegally present Guatemalan national and convicted sex offender, Ander Cortez-Mendez, 21, in Falls Church, Virginia, April 2.

ICE Dallas ERO Fugitive Operations and ERO Special Response teams arrested Carlos Ambriz, 53, an unlawfully present Mexican national and previously deported criminal alien near the subject’s residence in Catoosa, Oklahoma. Ambriz was convicted in Montana for the felony offense of deliberate homicide and sentenced to 40 years prison.

Julio Cesar Paniagua was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously removed alien. Herman Vazquez-Padilla was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States after committing an aggravated felony.

Officers from ICE Washington, D.C.; agents from FBI Washington, D.C.; DEA Washington, D.C. and officials from VSP arrested Silvia Lorena Bonilla-De Jandres, 40, in Alexandria, Feb. 25.

Officers with ICE Boston arrested Cosme De Leon-Barrios, 46, in Revere, Jan. 27.

ICE and federal law enforcement partners from the FBI, and DEA arrested a Dominican fugitive wanted in his native country for homicide.

Prior to making an initial appearance April 3 for criminal charges in U.S. District Court on a federal criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, John O’Brien, 28, was arrested for immigration violations on March 28 for violating the terms of his admission and failing to depart the United States as required by October 2021.

An investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; along with the Virginia State Police; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office ​for the Eastern District of Virginia, led to the sentencing of Jamaican national Kirkville Virgo, 47, March 28, to 14 years in prison for attempting to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

As a result of the evidence uncovered during the operation, Wellmade Industries' owner, Zhu Chen, and nephew, Jiayi Chen were arrested on state charges for trafficking persons for labor servitude. Additionally, dozens of victims employed at Wellmade Performance Flooring were rescued from labor exploitation.