ICE Arrests Multiple Child Predators and Violent Criminals in Single-Day Operation
In a sweeping 24-hour operation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested multiple violent criminal illegal immigrants, including several convicted child rapists and pedophiles, officials announced on January 28, 2026.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens. Yesterday, ICE arrested multiple child pedophiles and violent assailants,” the Department of Homeland Security stated in their release about the operation.
Five Dangerous Criminals Detained
The one-day sweep netted five individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, all previously convicted of violent or sexual crimes while in the United States illegally. These weren’t minor infractions. Among those arrested was Jesus Acosta-Ichaurrondo, a Mexican national convicted in California of rape by force/fear and sodomy of a minor, alongside Jaime Briseno Resendez, another Mexican citizen convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child in the same state.
Guatemalan national Engelber Eduardo De Leon-Hernandez, convicted of sexual abuse of a child and enticing a minor in Utah, was also apprehended during the operation. The arrests weren’t limited to sex offenders — agents also detained Daniel Salto, an Ecuadorian man convicted of assault in New York City, and Jose Zamora Escalona, a Cuban national previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Florida.
What’s particularly striking about these arrests? They occurred in a single 24-hour period, highlighting the agency’s renewed focus on removing dangerous criminals from American communities.
Part of a Broader Enforcement Strategy
The arrests come as part of a larger enforcement effort by the administration. According to DHS data, approximately 70% of all ICE arrests now involve illegal immigrants who have been charged with or convicted of crimes while in the United States, showing a clear prioritization of public safety threats in enforcement actions.
This one-day operation builds on the success of initiatives like Operation Predator, which has resulted in the arrest of over 2,000 child predators and sex offenders in less than eight months. The operation specifically targets individuals who pose serious threats to community safety, particularly those who have victimized children.
“We’re focusing our limited resources where they’ll have the greatest impact,” a senior ICE official told reporters on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. “That means prioritizing individuals who’ve committed serious crimes while in the country illegally.”
Still, critics argue that the administration’s broader immigration policies remain controversial, with some advocacy groups questioning whether enforcement actions are being conducted with appropriate due process protections.
For the families of victims, however, these arrests represent a meaningful step toward justice. The crimes committed by these individuals have left lasting trauma in multiple communities across California, Utah, New York, and Florida.
As the administration continues its crackdown on criminal illegal immigrants, these arrests serve as a stark reminder of the complex intersection between immigration enforcement and public safety — and the human impact that lies at the heart of both.
