ICE Arrests More Worst of Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens During Christmas Week Including Sexual Abusers, Violent Assailants, and Human Traffickers

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law-enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security. It was created after 9/11 and enforces hundreds of federal immigration, customs, and related criminal laws. Through its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) branches, ICE can: investigate crimes (like human smuggling, trafficking, and drug or weapons offenses), arrest noncitizens it believes are removable, detain them in immigration detention, and carry out deportations ordered under U.S. immigration law. Its officers operate nationwide and are authorized to make administrative immigration arrests and, in some cases, criminal arrests under federal law.

In this ICE/DHS context, “worst of the worst” is not a formal legal category; it is a public-relations label DHS uses for noncitizens who, in its view, pose the highest risk to public safety. Press releases and the ICE “Worst of the Worst” page use the phrase to describe people convicted or accused of serious or “heinous” crimes like murder, rape, child sexual abuse, major drug trafficking, gang violence, or terrorism, who have also violated U.S. immigration law and are being targeted for arrest or removal as enforcement priorities.

CBP Home is a DHS mobile app promoted as a tool for undocumented migrants to arrange “self-deportation” (voluntary departure). Under the December 22, 2025 DHS program, people in the U.S. without legal status who register through the CBP Home app and agree to leave by December 31, 2025 are offered: (1) a free, DHS-arranged flight to their home country and (2) a $3,000 cash stipend after they sign up and DHS confirms they have departed. DHS says using the app also qualifies participants for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to leave earlier. Those who do not use the program are warned they may instead face arrest, deportation, and bans on future return.

After ICE arrests someone like those in the article, two separate but related tracks usually follow:

1. Criminal process (if applicable):

• If the person is wanted for or has committed new crimes, they are typically transferred to state or federal criminal custody, prosecuted, and—if convicted—may serve a criminal sentence in jail or prison.

2. Immigration enforcement process:

• ICE issues immigration charges (e.g., being present without admission, prior removal and illegal reentry, or criminal grounds of removability) and places the person into removal proceedings.
• Many are held in ICE civil immigration detention during their case; some may be released under supervision or bond.
• An immigration judge (or, in some cases, DHS through expedited removal) decides whether they are removable and whether they qualify for any relief (such as asylum, protection under the Convention Against Torture, or certain waivers).
• If a removal order is entered and no relief is granted, ICE ERO arranges deportation to the person’s country of origin. Time in criminal custody usually comes before immigration removal, but ICE often “lodges a detainer” so custody transfers to ICE when the criminal sentence ends.

Specific next steps for the five named individuals in this article are not detailed in the press release, but they would generally go through this combination of criminal custody (if any open criminal issues exist) and immigration removal proceedings.

Tricia McLaughlin is the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. According to DHS, she oversees DHS’s public outreach, including media, digital, strategic, and crisis communications, and serves as the principal communications adviser to Secretary Kristi Noem. In ICE and broader DHS enforcement press releases—like the one you’re reading—she is the senior official quoted explaining or promoting DHS and ICE operations to the public and media; she does not run ICE operations but oversees how they are communicated.

These charges are based on specific criminal statutes; in plain terms they generally mean:

1. Alien smuggling (often charged under 8 U.S.C. § 1324):

• It is a federal crime to knowingly or recklessly help a noncitizen enter, travel within, or remain in the U.S. illegally (for example by transporting them, guiding them across the border, or hiding them), usually for money or other benefit. Penalties increase if it’s done for profit or endangers or injures migrants.

2. Felony sexual battery (Ohio law example):

• Under Ohio Revised Code § 2907.03, sexual battery is engaging in “sexual conduct” with another person in situations like: the person is coerced, substantially impaired (e.g., drunk, drugged, or otherwise unable to consent), unaware of the act, misled into thinking the offender is their spouse, or where the offender has a position of authority (such as teacher, coach, parent-like role, or corrections staff) and exploits it.
• It is generally a third-degree felony (and can be higher in some circumstances), carrying years in prison and lifetime sex-offender registration.

3. Burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a sex offense (Texas law):

• Under Texas Penal Code § 30.02, burglary of a “habitation” means entering someone’s home or other place used for overnight living without the owner’s consent and either: • doing so with intent to commit a felony, theft, or assault inside, or • actually committing or attempting to commit a felony, theft, or assault once inside.
• When the intended felony is a sexual offense (such as sexual assault), it is treated as a very serious felony (often first-degree), because it combines home invasion with a planned sexual crime.

Other charges mentioned in the article, in brief:

• Leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death (Idaho Code § 18‑8007): a driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone must stop, provide information, and render aid; fleeing instead is a felony.
• Felony possession of methamphetamine (Idaho): possessing certain Schedule I or II drugs like meth without authorization can be a felony, with significant prison time.
• Possession with intent to distribute marijuana (often 21 U.S.C. § 841 or parallel state law): possessing marijuana in a quantity or circumstances indicating it is meant for sale or distribution, not just personal use.

Each of these offenses is treated as serious or “aggravated” crime in immigration law, which is why ICE highlights them in “worst of the worst” materials.