While families gathered to celebrate Christmas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were busy with a different kind of holiday operation — arresting individuals with serious criminal convictions who were in the country illegally.
During Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025, ICE conducted a series of arrests targeting non-citizens previously convicted of crimes including homicide, drug trafficking, and robbery across multiple states, according to documents released by the agency.
Holiday Enforcement
“While families across the country joined together for Christmas celebrations, ICE continued delivering the American people the greatest gift of all: getting criminals out of our neighborhoods and protecting our families,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement following the operations.
The arrests targeted individuals from various countries who had been convicted of violent crimes and remained in the United States. Among those apprehended was Samuel Juarez-Cruz, a Mexican national convicted of criminal homicide, 3rd degree murder, and criminal conspiracy to commit criminal homicide in Washington County, Pennsylvania, records show.
Another significant arrest was Miguel Gonzalez-Toledo from Cuba, who had prior convictions for homicide and drug trafficking in Florida, according to agency reports.
Gang Connections
The holiday sweep also netted Lionel Arevalo-Rubio, an El Salvadoran national and confirmed MS-13 gang member who had been convicted of robbery in Los Angeles, California. MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, has been a priority target for law enforcement agencies due to the gang’s history of extreme violence and criminal activities across the United States.
Why conduct such operations during the holiday season? Officials maintain that enforcement activities continue regardless of the calendar, with public safety remaining the priority.
Mohamed Hassan Jeylani, a Somali national with multiple vehicle-related convictions including possession of a stolen vehicle and operation while impaired by drugs in Monroe County, New York, was also among those detained during the operation.
Violent Offenders
The arrests included several individuals convicted of assault with deadly weapons. Marcos Archila-Aquino from Guatemala had been convicted for aggravated assault with a weapon in Farmington, Utah, while Juan Zarzoza-Garza, a Mexican national, had similar convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Edinburg, Texas, according to data from immigration authorities.
Juan David Vazquez-Reyes from Mexico was taken into custody following a conviction for death by auto or vessel in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Such cases typically involve vehicular homicide or manslaughter resulting from impaired or reckless driving.
Other arrests included Yasir Emilio Lohai Ojok from Sudan, convicted of 2nd degree burglary in Ontario, California, and Leonardo Miliano, a Dominican Republic national convicted on multiple firearms charges in Lynn, Massachusetts, officials confirmed.
Border Security Connection
The operations also targeted those involved in human smuggling. Jose Arena-Ojeda, a Venezuelan national convicted for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and alien smuggling in Brackettville, Texas, was among those apprehended during the Christmas enforcement actions.
These arrests come amid ongoing national debates about immigration enforcement priorities and border security. Critics have questioned the timing and necessity of holiday enforcement actions, while supporters point to the serious criminal histories of those targeted.
For the families of victims of these crimes, however, the timing may matter less than the fact that those convicted have been apprehended. As enforcement operations continue into the new year, ICE officials maintain that their focus remains on individuals who pose threats to public safety and national security, regardless of the season.
