ICE Arrests Convicted Criminals in Nationwide Operation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended a group of individuals described as the “worst of the worst” during a recent operation targeting violent illegal immigrants. This initiative comes amid ongoing debates about immigration policy and enforcement across the United States.

Among those arrested is Jung Choi, a 53-year-old South Korean national and California resident, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in 2020. Choi was involved in the 2017 murder of Yoon “Clara” Ji, who died from blunt force trauma. Her body was discovered in a ravine near San Juan Bautista, California, after her daughter reported her missing.

Choi was paroled on August 25, 2025, and was immediately taken into custody by ICE agents, who plan to deport her back to South Korea. A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official stated, “We are not going to allow this murderer and criminal illegal alien to remain in our country.”

The operation also led to the arrest of several other individuals with extensive criminal records. Marion Andres Gomez-Arenas, a 41-year-old Colombian national, has 23 criminal arrests and 18 convictions in Georgia, including charges of fraud and driving under the influence.

Arturo Serrano-Zeferino, a foreign national from Mexico, has been convicted of felony stalking and domestic violence in North Carolina. Zoilo Holguin-Tavarez, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was arrested for drug trafficking and firearm offenses.

Kelin Henriquez-Ruiz, a Nicaraguan national, was convicted of assault in Texas, while Rigoberto Morales Hernandez, from Mexico, was apprehended for alien smuggling in New York. Miguel Martinez, also from Mexico, faces charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor in North Carolina.

Xaykham Mannavong, a foreign national from Laos, was convicted of aggravated assault with a firearm in Los Angeles, and Madai Perez-Perez, a Guatemalan national, was arrested for willful poisoning in California. Long Duc Tran, an illegal immigrant from Vietnam, has convictions for assault and aggravated wounding in Maryland and Virginia, respectively.

The DHS official emphasized the agency’s commitment to targeting dangerous individuals, stating, “Day after day, ICE is going after the worst of the worst because under President Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS will always put AMERICANS first.”

Critics of ICE operations argue that such actions disproportionately affect immigrant communities and may lead to unjust deportations. Advocates for immigration reform have called for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement, emphasizing the need for comprehensive policy changes.

Despite the criticism, supporters of the operation maintain that it is essential for public safety. The recent arrests highlight ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy in the U.S., particularly as the Biden administration continues to face scrutiny over its handling of border security and illegal immigration.

As ICE continues its enforcement efforts, the agency remains under the spotlight, with both supporters and critics closely monitoring its actions and the implications for immigrant communities nationwide.