Photo: Alamy
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Tuesday a completed 14-day operation resulting in the arrest of more than 1,000 criminal illegal aliens on American soil in an effort called “Operation Angel’s Honor.”
The operation directly paid homage to Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was ruthlessly murdered in early 2024 by a Venezuelan gang member who entered the country illegally during the Biden administration.
According to ICE, 1,030 aliens were arrested during the 14-day operation under the authority of the Laken Riley Act, which was signed into law in early 2024 by President Donald Trump, allowing the arrest of any illegal alien accused of a violent crime.
“President Trump has empowered us to arrest and remove the millions of violent criminal illegal aliens unleashed on the United States by the previous administration,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in an official statement.
She added, “Now, these criminals will face justice and be removed from our country. We can never bring Laken back, but we can do everything in our power to bring these heinous criminals to justice. I am so proud of what our brave men and women of ICE have done to remove these criminals from America’s streets.”
ICE also included a list of some of the “worst of the worst criminal aliens ICE took off the street” during the operation, including aliens from Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Alleged criminal histories ranged from aggravated robbery and rape to horrific torture and abuse of children.
ICE Director Todd Lyons said, “This operation, while a massive success, also serves as a solemn reminder of the profound impact that immigrant violence and crime can have on victims and their loved ones. ICE’s mission is to ensure that no more Americans will fall victim to illegal alien crime.”
