ICE Arrests Multiple Convicted Criminals in Recent Operations

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended several individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, including a convicted killer and various violent offenders, as part of ongoing efforts to remove dangerous illegal immigrants from the country.

Among those arrested is Jung Choi, a 53-year-old South Korean national who was convicted in 2020 of voluntary manslaughter. Choi was involved in the 2017 murder of Yoon “Clara” Ji in California, where she died from blunt force trauma. Choi was paroled on Friday, only to be detained by ICE agents immediately afterward, and is set to be deported 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.” This operation reflects the agency’s focus on apprehending individuals deemed to be among the “worst of the worst” in terms of criminal activity.

The arrests also included Marion Andres Gomez-Arenas, a 41-year-old Colombian national with a lengthy criminal record in Georgia, which includes 23 arrests and 18 convictions for offenses such as fraud and driving under the influence.

Arturo Serrano-Zeferino, a foreign national from Mexico, was also taken into custody. He has a history of felony stalking and domestic violence convictions in North Carolina.

Other notable arrests include Zoilo Holguin-Tavarez from the Dominican Republic, who was convicted of drug trafficking offenses, and Kelin Henriquez-Ruiz from Nicaragua, who has a conviction for assault causing bodily injury in Texas.

Additionally, Rigoberto Morales Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was apprehended for alien smuggling, while Miguel Martinez, also from Mexico, faces charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor in North Carolina.

Xaykham Mannavong from Laos was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm in Los Angeles, and Madai Perez-Perez, a Guatemalan national, was convicted of willful poisoning in California. Long Duc Tran, an illegal immigrant from Vietnam, was also taken into custody for assault and aggravated wounding with a firearm.

The DHS official emphasized that these operations are part of a broader strategy to prioritize the safety of American citizens. Critics, however, argue that such actions disproportionately target vulnerable immigrant populations and may overlook systemic issues within the immigration system.

“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,” the official stated, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to public safety.

As ICE continues its operations, the debate over immigration enforcement remains contentious, with supporters advocating for stricter measures to protect communities, while critics call for reforms that address the root causes of illegal immigration and the treatment of immigrants in the justice system.