U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a nationwide enforcement operation over the Independence Day weekend, arresting numerous undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions, including for murder, child sex crimes, and drug trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the operation on Monday, stating that federal immigration authorities apprehended individuals across the country who pose public safety threats.
According to DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis, the arrested individuals included those convicted of murder, burglary, child sex crimes, kidnapping, drunk driving, and drug trafficking. "While Americans celebrated the 250th anniversary of the greatest nation on Earth, the brave men and women of ICE were arresting the worst of the worst," Bis said.
Among those arrested were Radimir Thompson-Nagle, a Panamanian citizen with prior convictions for murder and assault in New York. Marcos Rubio-Hernandez, a Mexican citizen, had been convicted of second-degree murder and kidnapping in North Carolina. Roberto Gutierrez-Diaz, also from Mexico, had convictions in Kentucky for sexual abuse of a minor, attempted rape, and burglary.
Francisco Olmedo-Silva, from Mexico, faced charges related to drug trafficking and escaping custody across Oregon, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania. Pedro Mazorra-Herrera, from Cuba, was convicted in Florida for aggravated stalking, resisting an officer, burglary with assault or battery, and cocaine possession.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized sanctuary jurisdictions, stating that "Sanctuary city politicians who put illegal alien criminals over their own citizens are a national security threat." He specifically cited Fairfax County, Virginia, noting that it had designated itself a sanctuary jurisdiction in 2021 and, according to a Fox News Digital report, had refused to transfer 615 undocumented immigrants to ICE over the past 16 months, while only transferring 11.
Angel Mom Cheryl Minter testified before House Republicans about her daughter's murder by an alleged undocumented immigrant with over 30 prior arrests, criticizing Virginia's sanctuary policies and demanding accountability from Fairfax County's District Attorney Steve Descano. Minter highlighted the consequences of what she described as leniency towards undocumented immigrant criminals.