WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested more than 1,030 criminal illegal immigrants in a nationwide enforcement effort carried out under the Laken Riley Act, federal officials said, highlighting an aggressive expansion of immigration enforcement under the administration of Donald Trump.
The arrests were made during Operation Angel’s Honor, a 14-day ICE operation that concluded earlier this month. The Laken Riley Act, signed into law on Jan. 29, is named after Laken Hope Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was killed in February 2024 by a Venezuelan national in the U.S. illegally.
Who Was Arrested
According to ICE, those taken into custody include individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, such as assault and sexual offenses. Among the cases cited by the agency were:
- A Peruvian national with a history of rape and assault
- A Nicaraguan national previously arrested for assaulting a police officer
- A Mexican national convicted of sexually exploiting a child
- An El Salvadoran national arrested for assault and battery involving a pregnant victim
Under the Laken Riley Act, the Department of Homeland Security is required to detain foreign nationals charged with crimes such as burglary, theft, assault, or offenses resulting in serious injury or death — even if a state court has granted them bail.
Administration Defends Crackdown
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the operation reflects a renewed focus on removing violent offenders from the country.
“These criminals will face justice and be removed,” Noem said, adding that while Riley’s death cannot be undone, enforcement efforts aim to prevent similar crimes.
ICE Director Todd Lyons described the operation as a success but said it also exposed the challenges agents face when local governments refuse to cooperate.
Clash With Sanctuary Policies
ICE officials criticized so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, arguing that limits on cooperation force federal officers to conduct arrests in the community rather than in controlled settings like jails. The Department of Justice has identified multiple states and cities with sanctuary policies, including jurisdictions that have recently strengthened restrictions on assisting federal immigration enforcement.
In Minnesota, for example, the Minneapolis City Council voted this month to expand its long-standing sanctuary ordinance, barring city resources and data from being used to aid federal immigration authorities. Similar measures have been enacted in Illinois, prompting the DOJ to file lawsuits against state officials over laws restricting immigration arrests near schools, hospitals, and courts.
Broader Enforcement Push
DHS says the arrests tied to Operation Angel’s Honor are part of a wider national campaign. Federal officials report thousands of additional arrests under other regional operations this year, including efforts in Chicago, Minneapolis, Massachusetts, and Oregon.
According to DHS, roughly 70% of individuals arrested by ICE nationwide are criminal illegal immigrants who have been charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States.
Federal officials say enforcement efforts will continue as the administration presses forward with its immigration agenda, even as legal battles with sanctuary jurisdictions intensify.