News Releases and Statements

An indictment unsealed May 13 is the first in the nation to charge alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel with narco-terrorism and material support of terrorism in connection with trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States.

ICE arrested 27-year-old Afghani national Javid Ahmadi May 13 in Elkridge, Maryland. Ahmadi has been convicted of second-degree assault.

ICE ERO and interagency partners, identified, detained and removed dangerous criminals throughout Los Angeles and surrounding cities. Criminal aliens in the U.S. illegally should utilize the CBP Home app to self-deport and avoid arrest by ICE.

ICE Philadelphia removed Fengyun Shi, a citizen of China with a final order of removal, to China on May 7. ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor designated Shi as a national security risk based on his conviction for use of an aircraft for the unlawful photographing of designated military installations.

ICE Philadelphia removed Elvis Isaac Aguirre Yanez, a citizen of Ecuador with a final order of removal, to Ecuador on May 6. Aguirre, a foreign fugitive, was turned over to authorities in Ecuador to face charges for rape.

ICE investigates and arrests those who violate U.S. immigration law, including dangerous criminal aliens who pose public safety and national security threats.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 52 illegal aliens during a four-day operation from May 5 to May 8 focused on bolstering public safety in northern Nevada.

The multiagency investigation took place at Manitou Equipment America and Global Polymer Industries, resulting in a total of eight arrests. At Manitou, three illegal aliens, two from Nicaragua and one from El Salvador, were arrested. At Global, five illegal aliens, three from Nicaragua and two from Guatemala, were arrested. All eight individuals are currently being held by ICE pending removal proceedings.

A federal grand jury indicted Orengo Delgado May 7 with five counts for coercion and enticement of a minor, transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child exploitation material, and transfer of obscene material to a minor.

ICE arrested 422 illegal aliens, including 296 criminal aliens, and deported 528 aliens during a seven-day operation from May 4 – May 10 focused on bolstering public safety in the Houston area.

Cesar Abraam Velasquez-Munoz, 20, of Peoria, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit placing in jeopardy the life of any person and resulting in death.

ICE working with law enforcement partners apprehended 189 illegal aliens and served notices of inspection to 187 local businesses during an enhanced targeted immigration enforcement operation focusing on criminal alien offenders operating in and around Washington, D.C. May 6 to May 9.

Fifty-three Dominican nationals were arrested including seven females during the multiagency operation that took place at the La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort hotel construction worksite.

The operation, focused on identifying and apprehending removable aliens who pose a threat to public safety, was carried out across the greater Nashville area in coordination with Department of Homeland Security components, The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Edgar Sanchez-Solis, 23, unlawfully residing in Kansas City, Kansas; Ignacio Diaz-Perez, 35, unlawfully residing in Oakwood, Georgia; Samuel Diaz-Perez, 26, unlawfully residing in Dublin, Ohio; and Salvador Diaz-Diaz, 32, unlawfully residing in Columbus, Ohio, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States and 25 counts of bringing aliens illegally to the United States for profit.

ICE HSI special agents arrested Joshua DeWitte, 50, of Cambridge on May 8 and Christopher Allan Tisoy, 27, a Filipino national residing in Baltimore, Maryland on May 7. Both were charged with one count each of sexual exploitation of minors, attempt, and conspiracy.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 38-year-old criminal alien Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, a Salvadoran national, May 5 in Silver Spring. Mejia is a validated MS-13 gang member and is wanted in his home country for firearms offenses.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the North Texas Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force arrested a foreign fugitive wanted by Venezuelan authorities for his direct involvement in the homicide of four individuals. Law enforcement officers from the DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and ICE Dallas apprehended Anthony Fabian Marin La Torre, 42, in Grapevine May 2.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon an official report of a detained illegal alien’s death, and posts a news release with relevant details on the ICE public website within two business days per agency policy.

ICE in Utah removed Sergio Orlando Monroy Rescinos, 37, an illegal alien from Guatemala, to his home country May 7 to face charges of aggravated sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age.

Officers with ICE Boston and agents with FBI Boston arrested Fernando Antonio Vieira-Martins, 34, in Milford May 1.

On May 7, Enforcement and Removal Operations San Diego arrested Humberto Lopez, 50, a citizen of Mexico.

Mexican nationals Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna, 30, and Jesus Juan Rodriguez Leyva, 36, believed to be involved in the smuggling event were taken into custody at the time of the incident. They have been charged with bringing in aliens resulting in death and bringing in aliens for financial gain.

Alan Xavier Cabrera, 27, of Mexico, was arrested April 25, and charged by criminal complaint for possession of child pornography. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investigating this case.

Leslie Kibula Bongajum, 34, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.