U.S. immigration agents, on Thursday, arrested over 500 undocumented migrants across several cities, drawing attention to both the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration and its controversial methods.
According to the White House, which shared the details via social media platform X, a total of 538 arrests and 373 detainers were made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in various locations across the country. The arrested individuals were allegedly linked to serious crimes, with some facing sexual assault charges.
Among the notable arrests was Luis Alberto Espinoza-Boconsaca in Buffalo, New York, who had previously been convicted of rape. In Colorado, Magdaleno Zenen Hernandez Garcia was detained after being convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child aged 14 or younger.
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ICE also apprehended Cristofer Alexander Ramirez-Olivia in St. Paul, Minnesota, for third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and Pedro Julio Mejia, arrested in Buffalo, for sexual conduct against a child.
While the White House hailed the operation as a preview of the Trump administration’s efforts to secure U.S. borders, the raids have sparked fierce criticism and raised concerns about tactics employed by ICE. Cities such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Atlanta, Newark, and Miami were all affected, as the raids targeted undocumented migrants with criminal charges.
The raid in Newark, New Jersey, caused a public uproar, prompting Mayor Ras Baraka to condemn ICE’s actions. Baraka called the raids an unlawful attack on the community, asserting, “Newark will not stand by idly while people are being unlawfully terrorized.”