Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested more than 230 criminal illegal immigrants in Florida during a 10-day operation that targeted sexual predators and violent criminals, federal and state officials announced Thursday.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem identified the effort as “Operation Dirtbag” during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News.
Operation Dirtbag, launched on October 25, resulted in the arrest of 150 sexual predators among the 230 total arrests.
“This operation was called Operation Criminal Return. I call it Operation Dirtbag, because these individuals were sex offenders, but not just sex offenders, they targeted children,” Noem said. “So sexual assault, battery, attempted homicide. These 150 individuals will be gone off of our streets. Our kids will be safer.”
The Department of Homeland Security said those arrested had convictions ranging from sexual assault of minors, rape, lewd and lascivious conduct, and child exploitation to battery and attempted homicide.
“These individuals should have never been in our country to begin with,” Noem said. “The fact that they were sexual deviants and perverts, and now we’ve gotten them off of our streets, it’s remarkable and we need to do more of it.”
ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan said the operation demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to removing criminal predators illegally staying in the United States.
“This operation underscores President Trump and Secretary Noem’s determination to target and remove dangerous criminal alien predators from the United States,” Sheahan said. “Sanctuary cities that shield these criminals from accountability undermine the rule of law and jeopardize the safety of their residents.”
“Together, we send an unmistakable message: Criminal aliens who threaten our citizens and violate our laws will be removed and prevented from committing further heinous crimes,” she said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a statement those arrested were among “the most dangerous criminal illegal aliens with horrific criminal histories,” which include sex crimes against children. He said those arrested “will be out of our country soon.”
“Florida has been the most aggressive state in America on combating illegal immigration, and our state and local law enforcement agencies are doing more every day to be the federal government’s greatest tool in the fight to enforce immigration law,” DeSantis said.
Noem said the collaboration between DHS and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis serves as a model for other states
The operation was conducted in partnership with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local law enforcement agencies under the 287(g) program, which allows state and local officers to perform immigration enforcement functions.