ICE has conducted a nationwide operation to arrest illegal immigrants with severe criminal convictions, including those engaged in sex crimes against children and human smuggling. The arrests, which took place in multiple cities across the United States, highlight the agency’s focus on removing dangerous individuals from American communities. The operation has been praised by immigration officials as a significant step in ensuring public safety.
The arrests include several high-profile cases, with ICE Buffalo apprehending Jacobo Argueta-Fuentes, a 33-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador. Argueta-Fuentes, according to authorities, has a history of multiple sex crimes against children in Suffolk County, New York. His convictions include rape, promoting prostitution, and sexual abuse. Another arrest in Houston involved Rafael Manriquez-Mancia, a 45-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Smith County, Texas.
Similarly, ICE New Orleans arrested Abraham Eladio Pineda-Rocha, a 33-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, who was convicted of alien smuggling in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Meanwhile, Alfonso Lopez-Cabrera, a 48-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested by ICE Los Angeles for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 in Norwalk, California. Another arrest in Buffalo included Wahota Allassane Ouattara, a 38-year-old illegal immigrant from the Ivory Coast, who was convicted of arson in New York City.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commended the efforts, stating that these arrests are a direct result of President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies. The officials emphasized that the removal of these individuals is a priority, noting that ICE law enforcement officers put their lives at risk to ensure the safety of American citizens.
This operation is part of a broader initiative under the Trump administration, which has been characterized by a focus on strict immigration enforcement. The arrests underscore the administration’s stance on targeting criminal aliens, as opposed to those who may be considered law-abiding immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security has consistently emphasized the need for such measures to protect the public and enforce immigration laws effectively.