Washington D.C. – Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have successfully apprehended more than 1,000 illegal aliens under the Laken Riley Act during a two-week initiative called Operation Angel’s Honor. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the operation’s results on social media, noting that the enforcement action was designed to honor Laken Riley, a nursing student brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant in 2024.
Secretary Noem Announces Operation Results
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the outcomes of Operation Angel’s Honor in her public statement. “In honor of Laken Riley, ICE launched Operation Angel’s Honor—in the last 2 weeks alone arresting more than 1,000 criminal illegal aliens under the authority of the Laken Riley Act,” Noem wrote. She emphasized that President Trump has empowered enforcement agencies to arrest and remove millions of violent criminal illegal aliens allegedly unleashed on the United States by the previous administration.
Memorial Mission and Justice Commitment
Noem acknowledged the profound loss while emphasizing the operation’s purpose. “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,” she stated regarding Operation Angel’s Honor. The Secretary expressed pride in the brave men and women of ICE who worked to remove criminals from America’s streets during this intensive enforcement period.
Operation Timeline and Memorial Purpose
Operation Angel’s Honor concluded on Monday, December 22, after two weeks of targeted enforcement activities. The operation was conducted in memory of Riley, a nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant last year. The initiative represents one of the largest coordinated enforcement actions undertaken by ICE in recent months, specifically targeting individuals accused of serious criminal offenses beyond their immigration violations.
Heinous Crimes Among Those Apprehended
Some of the illegal immigrants nabbed by ICE under Operation Angel’s Honor were accused of heinous crimes that shocked investigators. The charges against arrested individuals included rape, assault with intent to cause injury to an officer, indecent liberties with a child, and numerous other serious offenses. The severity of these criminal allegations underscored the operation’s focus on removing individuals who posed significant public safety threats to American communities.
ICE Director’s Statement on Mission Success
ICE Director Todd Lyons characterized Operation Angel’s Honor as both a massive success and a solemn reminder. “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,” Lyons stated. He emphasized that ICE’s mission is to ensure that no more Americans will fall victim to illegal alien crime, reflecting the agency’s commitment to public safety.
The Laken Riley Act Background
The Laken Riley Act was passed by the Senate hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. The act was named after Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was brutally murdered by 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant. She was found dead near a lake on the University of Georgia’s campus in Athens in February 2024. The legislation provided enhanced authority for immigration enforcement operations like Operation Angel’s Honor.
High-Profile Criminal Arrests
Operation Angel’s Honor resulted in the apprehension of what the Department of Homeland Security described as the “worst of the worst criminal aliens.” Among those arrested was 37-year-old Alejandro Ojose-Asto, whose criminal record includes rape, criminal obstruction of breathing, assault with intent to cause physical injury, and additional charges. His arrest exemplified the operation’s focus on individuals with extensive violent criminal histories.
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Child Exploitation and Sexual Assault Cases
Several individuals arrested during Operation Angel’s Honor faced serious charges related to crimes against children. Carlos Gomez-Diaz, a 27-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was previously convicted of sexual exploitation of a child. Jamie Escobar-Mirales, a 37-year-old from Mexico, was arrested for two counts of rape of a child. These cases highlighted the operation’s emphasis on protecting vulnerable populations from predatory criminals.
Weapons and Domestic Violence Offenders
Operation Angel’s Honor targeted individuals involved in armed violence and domestic abuse. Jose Jimenez-Munoz, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested for being armed with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present, domestic violence, and additional charges. Brandon Barrientos-Garcia, a 28-year-old from Guatemala, faced charges including assault by strangulation, burglary, breaking and entering to terrorize or injure, and domestic assault.
Repeat Offenders and Prior Removal Orders
Some arrests under Operation Angel’s Honor involved individuals who had previously been ordered removed from the United States. Fernando Manzanares-Cruz, 40 years old and ordered removed in 2016, was arrested for assault and battery on a pregnant victim, witness intimidation, destruction of property, and assault and battery of family or household members. Braulio Rosas-Ayala, with a history of rape and sodomy, had been ordered removed in 1999 but apparently remained in the country.
Additional Serious Criminal Cases
Javier Diaz-Cabrera was arrested with a criminal record including illegal sexual contact with a victim under age 13, sexual assault with a victim under 18 by a guardian, and conviction for evading responsibility for physical injury. These cases demonstrated that Operation Angel’s Honor focused on removing individuals whose criminal conduct posed ongoing threats to community safety.
Operation Angel’s Honor represents a significant enforcement milestone in immigration policy, combining memorial purpose with public safety objectives through targeted apprehension of criminal offenders.
