ICE Arrests 10 Convicted Sex Offenders in California's Central Valley Operation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently conducted an enforcement operation in California's Central Valley, resulting in the arrest of 10 individuals identified as convicted sex offenders who are unlawfully present foreign nationals. This action was publicly highlighted by Secretary Kristi Noem, who emphasized the Trump administration's firm stance on immigration enforcement and public safety. The operation targeted an area often characterized as "sanctuary California."

Among those arrested were individuals with severe criminal histories, including convictions for molesting victims under 18, lewd and lascivious acts with children under 14, and continuous sexual abuse. For instance, Jose Ventura Gomez-Rivera and Antonia Miguel-Francisco, both from Mexico, were arrested for convictions related to lewd and lascivious acts with a child. Sithideth Aphayvong, from Laos, was arrested for molesting a victim under 18 and failing to update sex offender registration.

California's "sanctuary" laws are designed to limit local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities, primarily to shield individuals accused of minor infractions from deportation. However, state law does not apply to unauthorized immigrants convicted of serious crimes, and state prisons routinely transfer individuals with such backgrounds to ICE. This distinction is often a point of contention in the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement.

Secretary Kristi Noem underscored the administration's commitment to these enforcement actions in a social media post.

"Under @POTUS Trump, NOWHERE is a safe haven for criminal illegal aliens. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, arrest you, deport you, and you will never return," Secretary Noem stated in the tweet. Her message reiterated the administration's policy of aggressively pursuing and deporting non-citizens who have committed crimes.

ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) consistently prioritizes the arrest and removal of non-citizens who pose a threat to public safety, including those with criminal convictions for violent offenses and sex crimes. While federal data indicates that immigrants, including those who are undocumented, commit crimes at lower rates than U.S.-born citizens, ICE maintains its focus on individuals with serious criminal records. The agency continues to conduct targeted operations nationwide to enforce immigration laws and enhance community safety.