Category: Tricia mclaughlin
Making a list and checking it twice: ICE’s year-end roundup of the most heinous illegal alien invaders
Over the past 11 months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies have worked to put away numerous murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, drug traffickers, and terrorists.
The Department of Homeland Security listed over a dozen of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens who were arrested by federal law enforcement agents in 2025 in a press release exclusively obtained by Blaze News.
The department stated that 70% of ICE’s arrests were illegal aliens who were either convicted of or charged with a crime in the United States.
‘Americans can be proud of DHS law enforcement who worked around the clock this year to remove the worst of the worst from American neighborhoods.’
The DHS year-end roundup highlighted ICE New Orleans’ arrest of Olvin Rodriguez-Inestroza, a Honduran national with active warrants for 394 counts of pornography involving juveniles and two counts of sexual abuse of an animal.
In July, the then-22-year-old pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography after investigators found hundreds of disturbing photos and videos on his phone, including some involving toddlers.
Olvin Rodriguez-Inestroza. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Federal agents also arrested Diego Barron-Esquivel, a Mexican national who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for violently assaulting and strangling an ICE officer in February in Wichita, Kansas. Barron-Esquivel was accused of consistently harassing his former spouse, and he was previously arrested on multiple counts of domestic battery, protection order violations, aggravated robbery, felony theft, and other offenses.
Diego Barron-Esquivel. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Jaan Shah Safi, an Afghan national, entered the country under former President Joe Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome” in 2021. He was previously arrested for allegedly providing support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan, also referred to as ISIS-K. According to the DHS, Safi provided weapons to his father, who is a commander of an Afghan militia group. The DHS announced in early December that ICE agents arrested Safi in Waynesboro, Virginia, after his Temporary Protected Status application was terminated.
Jaan Shah Safi. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
ICE captured Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto, an MS-13 gang member from Honduras who is believed to have illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 after he allegedly bribed his way out of jail in his home country. He is wanted in Honduras for a quadruple homicide and is an alleged member of an assassination squad. Federal immigration agents caught up to Cuadra Soto in Grand Island, Nebraska, on December 8.
Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Jose Alfredo Uzeta, a Mexican national, was accused of performing dental procedures without a license. He was convicted of dentistry act violation and indecent assault in Harris County, Texas.
Jose Alfredo Uzeta. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Rafael Alberto Cadena-Sosa, from Mexico, was accused of running a sex trafficking operation in Miami, Florida, with his family. ICE Los Angeles arrested Cadena-Sosa in San Pedro, California, in December. According to the Department of Justice, he and his family approached females, some as young as 14, in Mexico to lure them into the U.S. under false promises of work opportunities. Once in the U.S., they allegedly imposed a smuggling debt and used threats and violence to force the females into engaging in prostitution 12 hours a day, six days a week.
Rafael Alberto Cadena-Sosa. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
ICE agents also rounded up Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, from El Salvador, who is a confirmed gang member of the 18th Street Gang, which is designated a foreign terrorist organization. He is wanted in his home country for aggravated homicide, extortion, drug possession, and other felonies. Federal agents nabbed Lazo-Quintanilla in March.
Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez, from El Salvador, was convicted of sexual assault of a child under 17 years old. His criminal history also includes multiple DUIs, child fondling, and illegal re-entering of the U.S. During his November arrest, the convicted pedophile allegedly assaulted an ICE officer with a metal coffee cup, resulting in a laceration that required 13 stitches.
Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
ICE agents arrested Thao Van Cao, a Vietnamese national who is a member of the Asian Cheap Boy criminal gang. His lengthy rap sheet includes 25 convictions for crimes such as flight to avoid prosecution, possession of a controlled substance, second-degree robbery, cruelty toward the elderly, arson, and theft.
Thao Van Cao. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Aldrin Guerrero-Munoz was picked up by federal immigration agents in October. The criminal illegal alien was previously sentenced to 32 years in prison for the intentional murder of his 3-month-old son.
Aldrin Guerrero-Munoz. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
ICE apprehended Jung Choi, a 53-year-old from South Korea. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after she and her male companion were accused of murdering his wife.
Jung Choi. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Jonatan Monzon-Olivares, a Guatemalan national, was taken off the street in August. He had been arrested 38 times with 15 convictions for crimes including sexual assault, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, possession of stolen property, and obstructing justice.
Jonatan Monzon-Olivares. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Federal agents nabbed Alejandro Lima-Ramirez, who was previously arrested two dozen times in California and Oregon. He has 16 convictions, including for drug trafficking, robbery, fraud, and carrying a concealed weapon.
Alejandro Lima-Ramirez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
In August, ICE agents apprehended Michael Kabiona, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was found guilty in 2015 of repeatedly raping his stepdaughter, starting when she was 9 years old.
Michael Kabiona. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Pedro Luis Ortiz-Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz-Mendez, brothers from Mexico, were also arrested by federal immigration agents in August. The two men are wanted in their home country for multiple murders.
Pedro Luis Ortiz-Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz-Mendez. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
Lastly, the DHS highlighted this year’s arrest of Yehia Elham Badawi, an Egyptian national with a lengthy criminal record, including robbery, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment, among other violent felonies. His convictions stem from a 1994 shoot-out that seriously injured a Philadelphia police officer.
Yehia Elham Badawi. Image source: Department of Homeland Security
“Americans can be proud of DHS law enforcement who worked around the clock this year to remove the worst of the worst from American neighborhoods. Our law enforcement has put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and terrorists,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
McLaughlin stated that under the leadership of President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, “criminals are not welcome in the U.S. If you come to our country and break our laws, we will find you, arrest you, and deport you.”
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Fly home or get caught: Trump’s TSA feeding ICE names before takeoff to nab illegal aliens ‘without apology’
President Donald Trump’s Transportation Security Administration is partnering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ramp up immigration enforcement.
While the two agencies are under the Department of Homeland Security, a New York Times report last week stated that “ICE has historically avoided interfering with domestic travel.”
‘The message to those in the country illegally is clear: The only reason you should be flying is to self-deport home.’
However, beginning in March, the TSA reportedly quietly expanded its data sharing with ICE.
According to the NYT, the TSA has been providing lists of travelers’ names to ICE ahead of their scheduled flights. ICE then cross-checks that information against its own database of those subject to deportation, the outlet wrote. Agents are then dispatched to apprehend those individuals at the airport.
The report noted that it is unclear how many arrests have resulted from this data-sharing effort. It claimed there was at least one such arrest by immigration officials at Boston Logan Airport on November 20. That individual was deported.
RELATED: App allegedly endangers ICE agents — now its creator is suing the Trump administration
“The administration has turned routine travel into a force multiplier for removals, potentially identifying thousands who thought they could evade the law simply by boarding a plane,” Scott Mechkowski, the former deputy head of ICE’s New York office, told the NYT.
“This isn’t about fear; it’s about restoring order and ensuring every American knows their government enforces its laws without apology,” he added.
RELATED: ‘Make travel family friendly again’: Trump admin launches $1B effort to improve airport experience
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
A DHS spokesperson told Blaze News that the program was “nothing new,” adding that in February, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem “reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country and do so without identification.”
“Under President Trump, TSA and DHS will no longer tolerate this. This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport,” DHS added.
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‘Naked judicial activism’: Judge issues restraining order on ICE in Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case
The high-profile deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is once again in the spotlight after an “activist” judge once again temporarily threw a wrench in the Department of Homeland Security’s work.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued an order barring immigration enforcement officials from detaining and deporting Garcia.
‘This order lacks any valid legal basis, and we will continue to fight this tooth and nail in the courts.’
Judge Xinis, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, upheld requests from Garcia’s lawyers for a temporary restraining order against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Newsweek reported.
Garcia was freed from immigration detention on Thursday after months of being in limbo, the Associated Press reported.
RELATED: Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s days in the US may be numbered after court’s latest ruling
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
“For the public to have any faith in the orderly administration of justice, the Court’s narrowly crafted remedy cannot be so quickly and easily upended without further briefing and consideration,” Xinis wrote.
Garcia’s attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, celebrated the news of the restraining order and his client’s release.
“Yesterday’s order from Judge Xinis and now the temporary restraining order this morning represent a victory of law over power,” Sandoval-Moshenberg said.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who allegedly faced death threats from twin brothers from New Jersey earlier this week, told Newsweek that the decision was “naked judicial activism.”
“This order lacks any valid legal basis, and we will continue to fight this tooth and nail in the courts,” McLaughlin added.
Garcia, an illegal alien and alleged MS-13 associate living in Maryland, was deported to an infamous Salvadoran prison earlier this year before being returned to the United States for continued processing of his case.
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‘Shoot ICE on sight’: Twin brothers arrested after allegedly threatening to hang DHS’ Tricia McLaughlin
Though Department of Homeland Security officials continue to bravely execute their deportation mandate, they have been met with a great deal of threats against their safety. In fact, a recent high-profile incident is only the latest example of what has reportedly been an 8,000% increase in death threats against immigration enforcement officials.
On Tuesday, twin brothers were arrested in Abescon, New Jersey, after allegedly issuing death threats to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in general and to a high-profile DHS spokeswoman in particular, according to a DHS press release.
‘We are NOT afraid of you.’
The pair are accused of calling on people to “shoot ICE on sight” on social media.
They also allegedly threatened to hang DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Ricardo Antonio Roman-FloresDepartment of Homeland Security
“Let this be a warning to anyone who dares threaten or attack our brave law enforcement officers,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We are NOT afraid of you.”
“The extreme rhetoric of the news media, sanctuary politicians, and activists is leading directly to our law enforcement officers facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them. If you threaten our law enforcement or DHS officials, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
RELATED: This Southern sanctuary city is next on the list for federal immigration law enforcement
Firearms and ammunition found at the scene of the arrest. Department of Homeland Security
Emilio Roman-Flores is charged with unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of prohibited weapons, conspiracy terroristic threats, criminal coercion, threats, and cyber harassment.
His twin brother, Ricardo Antonio Roman-Flores, is charged with conspiracy terroristic threats.
The pair were held at Absecon Police Department upon their arrest. Both are United States citizens.
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New Democratic Rep Adelita Grijalva Posts Video Of Herself Obstructing Federal Agents
‘I think that this is one of the problems’
‘So dumb it hurts my soul’: DHS brutally fact-checks viral ‘new data’ from Cato Institute
The Department of Homeland Security has showed no signs of slowing down its deportation campaign against the “worst of the worst” in the country. However, many of its detractors have tried countless methods of obstructing its mission and undermining public support.
On Monday, Cato Institute Director of Immigration Studies David Bier challenged the “worst of the worst” narrative with “new data” regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions.
‘By the way, every single one of these illegal aliens broke our nation’s laws by being in the country illegally.’
“Most ‘criminals’ had immigration, traffic, and vice offenses. Not the ‘worst of the worst,'” Bier said.
Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images
The pie chart shows that 73% of ICE detainees within the period of October 1-November 15 had “no conviction” and only 5% were “violent” offenders.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) highlighted the data, saying: “This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded to Bier via Senator Murphy’s post: “This is so dumb it hurts my soul. This is a made up pie chart with no legitimate data behind it — just propaganda to undermine the brave work of @DHSgov law enforcement and fool Americans.”
McLaughlin went on to set the record straight: “~ 70% of illegal aliens arrested have active criminal charges or criminal convictions. That doesn’t even include those wanted in another country for a crime, gang members, known/suspected terrorists, wanted by INTERPOL, human rights abusers. The list goes on.”
She then added what many people are thinking, for those who need to hear it: “By the way, every single one of these illegal aliens broke our nation’s laws by being in the country illegally.”
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Ramming attacks on ICE spike, endangering agents as Democrats continue to spew hateful rhetoric
As Trump’s Department of Homeland Security continues its deportation campaign across the country, violence against law enforcement has skyrocketed. On Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin joined Fox to discuss the increase in attacks and the resistance the DHS has faced from Democrat politicians.
Fox showed Tricia McLaughlin a montage of Democrat leadership, particularly from Chicago, seemingly advocating resistance against law enforcement.
‘It really is a shame that the Democrat Party has decided that violence against law enforcement is OK.’
“We need ICE out of our city,” Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson stated, claiming in a separate clip that federal agents had “broken laws” and “acted with impunity.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said, “Don’t believe it when they tell you they’re busting the worst of the worst gang and gang members. They’re attacking peaceful neighborhoods.”
Other examples of Democrats using highly charged rhetoric include Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) challenging the Trump administration to a “street fight,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) comparing ICE to “slave patrols,” and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) calling efforts to resist ICE “inspiring.”
Photo by Abel Uribe/Getty Images
In response to these speeches, McLaughlin said, “It really is a shame that the Democrat Party has decided that violence against law enforcement is OK. We will continue to do our jobs each and every day and get these violent criminal illegal aliens out of Chicago’s streets and out of sanctuary cities all over the country.”
“There is going to be no safe haven for violent criminal illegal aliens,” she added.
Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin confirmed the meteoric rise in vehicular attacks on federal immigration officers.
On X, Melugin wrote, “There have been 71 vehicular attacks against Customs and Border Patrol since January 20, compared to 45 vehicle assaults during the same period in 2024 — a 58% increase.”
The most shocking statistic, however, is the increase in attacks against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers: “There have been 28 vehicular attacks against ICE since January 20, compared to just 2 such incidents in the same period of 2024 — a 1,300% increase.”
Asked by Fox News about the mandate to hire 10,000 more ICE employees and the more than 200,000 applications for the positions, McLaughlin quipped, “We are looking for the best of the best to get the worst of the worst off our streets.”
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Deportations top 2 million under Trump — and most aren’t by force
Deportations and border security have been a crucial part of the second Trump administration, and nine months in, the government has started to release some results. Despite seemingly constant obstruction from Democrats, the administration has begun to deliver on its promises of mass deportations.
“The president is all about results, … and what President Trump, Secretary Noem, and our law enforcement have been able to do in the past 270 days, despite the injunctions, despite the obstruction from sanctuary city politicians and these activist judges, is really nothing short of extraordinary,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a Fox News interview on Monday.
‘While ICE actions targeting criminal illegal aliens have captured most of the attention, the phenomenon of large-scale self-deportation is probably even more significant.’
She went on to report that over 2 million illegal aliens have left the country since the beginning of Trump’s term, citing an October 27 press release.
McLaughlin claimed in the press release that the majority of the deportations have been voluntary: “More than 2 million illegal aliens have left the U.S. including 1.6 million who have voluntarily self-deported and over 527,000 deportations.”
Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis/Getty Images
According to a March 2025 study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, there are an estimated 18.6 million illegal aliens in the United States.
“While ICE actions targeting criminal illegal aliens have captured most of the attention, the phenomenon of large-scale self-deportation is probably even more significant,” Ira Mehlman, media director at the Federation for American Immigration Reform, told Blaze News.
Mehlman emphasized that illegal aliens are “rational” actors. If the perceived benefits of coming to the United States are unavailable to them because of their illegal status, they will likely leave voluntarily or not immigrate at all.
“If we … make it difficult to enter, difficult to find employment or access benefits and services, and that there is a reasonable chance that you might be apprehended and removed, illegal aliens will make similarly rational decisions: Many fewer come here illegally, and many of those who are here decide that they should leave on their own,” Melhman told Blaze News.
The government is also offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport, according to the press release.
Deterrence and shifting incentive structures for illegal immigrants have been key to turning the tide on the Biden border crisis, but more work needs to be done, as DHS admits.
“This is just the beginning. … DHS, ICE, and CBP have not just closed the border, but made historic strides to carry out President Trump’s promise of arresting and deporting illegal aliens who have invaded our country,” the DHS press release continued. “Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now or face the consequence: Migrants are now turning back before they even reach our borders.”
“Migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99.99%,” McLaughlin added, referring to the dangerous route connecting South and Central America that many immigrants use on their way to America.
In the interview, McLaughlin also added that 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will soon be hired to assist with immigration operations.
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