Tricia McLaughlin announces ICE Christmas arrests of criminal illegal immigrants
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested some of the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal immigrants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Saturday.
While many Americans are spending the holidays with their loved ones, ICE agents are “risking their lives” to find and arrest “gang members, murderers, drug traffickers and violent thugs,” according to DHS deputy secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“As families across the country gathered to celebrate Christmas, ICE continued to give the American people the greatest gift of all: removing criminals from our neighborhoods and protecting our families,” McLaughlin said in a statement.
The arrests included illegal immigrants from Mexico, Cuba, Somalia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Sudan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. All had past criminal convictions.
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Arrests made on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day included:
Samuel Juarez-Cruz, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was convicted in Pennsylvania of criminal homicide, third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit criminal homicide.
Samuel Juarez-Cruz was convicted in Pennsylvania of murder, third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. (Department of Homeland Security)
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Miguel Gonzalez-Toledo is an illegal immigrant from Cuba who was convicted of murder and drug trafficking in Florida.
Miguel Gonzalez-Toledo was convicted of murder and drug trafficking in Florida. (Department of Homeland Security)
Mohamed Hassan Jeylani, an illegal immigrant from Somalia, has multiple convictions, including possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless endangerment, unlawful flight from police and driving under the influence of drugs.
Mohamed Hassan Jeylani was found guilty of possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless endangerment, unlawful evasion from police and driving under the influence of drugs. (Department of Homeland Security)
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El Salvadoran MS-13 gang member Lionel Arevalo-Rubio was convicted of robbery in Los Angeles.
Lionel Arevalo-Rubio was convicted of robbery in Los Angeles. (Department of Homeland Security)
Juan David Vazquez-Reyes, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was convicted of death by automobile or vessel in New Jersey.
Juan David Vazquez-Reyes was sentenced to death by automobile or ship in New Jersey. (Department of Homeland Security)
Marcos Archila-Aquino, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was convicted of aggravated assault with a weapon in Utah.
Marcos Archila-Aquino was convicted of aggravated assault for the shooting in Utah. (Department of Homeland Security)
Juan Zarzoza-Garza, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was convicted in Texas of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Juan Zarzoza-Garza was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Texas. (Department of Homeland Security)
Yasir Emilio Lohai Ojok is an illegal immigrant from Sudan who was convicted of second-degree burglary in California.
Yasir Emilio Lohai Ojok was convicted of second-degree burglary in California. (Department of Homeland Security)
Leonardo Miliano, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was convicted of illegal firearm possession in Massachusetts.
Leonardo Miliano was convicted of illegal firearm possession in Massachusetts. (Department of Homeland Security)
Jose Arena-Ojeda is a Venezuelan illegal immigrant who was convicted in Texas of conspiring to transport illegal aliens and engage in alien smuggling.
Jose Arena-Ojeda was convicted in Texas of conspiring to transport illegal aliens and to engage in alien smuggling. (Department of Homeland Security)
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“We are grateful to our law enforcement officers who took time with their families and risked their lives to eliminate the worst of the worst,” McLaughlin added.
DHS recently announced that more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since President Donald Trump returned to office this year, citing a sweeping immigration crackdown that it said has led to the “most secure border in American history.”
Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
