Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed the apprehension of 26 sexual predators among illegal immigrants in Los Angeles during a three-day operation. Executed by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations from December 18-20, the crimes involved individuals from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala, including offenses against children.
“The outcome of this operation exemplifies the professionalism, dedication and commitment of ERO Los Angeles officers to public safety,” said ERO Los Angeles FOD Thomas Giles. “Removing these individuals and the threats they represent from our communities is our mission, and we will continue to safely and effectively enforce the immigration laws of our nation.”
These arrests coincide with the ongoing surge in illegal border crossings under President Joe Biden, with November witnessing nearly 250,000 crossings—an all-time high. According to last week’s CBP data, November recorded 242,418 encounters, marking the highest for the month and the third-highest monthly total overall.
ICE emphasized the apprehension of three individuals in the operation, one of whom is a 19-year-old from El Salvador convicted of felony sexual forcible oral copulation of a minor over 14 years old and battery by restraint.
A 40-year-old individual from Mexico, convicted of felony lewd acts with a child and continuous sexual abuse, was among those apprehended in the operation. Additionally, a 35-year-old from Guatemala, with a conviction for felony child molestation in an inhabited dwelling, was arrested by ICE for removal.
ICE highlighted its actions in fiscal year 2022, reporting the arrest of 46,396 foreign nationals with criminal history. Among them were 8,164 individuals with sex and sexual assault offenses, alongside 21,531 assault offenses, 5,554 weapons offenses, 1,501 homicide-related offenses, and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.
