In a recent appearance on Fox News, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs, shed light on the arrest records of some illegal immigrants apprehended by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a significant operation.
The operation, dubbed "Operation Tidal Wave," was a collaborative effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
According to a report by Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, the operation, which took place in Florida, resulted in the arrest of nearly 800 illegal immigrants over a four-day period. McLaughlin described the operation as a "preview" of future initiatives. "This was a major success, it was a large-scale operation. And to your point, this is a preview of what is to come throughout the nation," McLaughlin stated.
She further explained the role of partnerships under the 287(g) authorities, signed by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, which empower state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. Section 287(g), enacted in 1996, allows ICE to delegate certain functions to state and local law enforcement agencies.
McLaughlin emphasized the significance of these partnerships, stating, "What that means is they can actually make arrests and clean up our streets get these criminal aliens off our streets." She added, "So, like you said, almost 800 aliens including MS-13 gang members, convicted murderers, rapists, all of these people are now off of our streets who otherwise have been acting with impunity and terrorizing U.S. communities. You are going to be seeing this throughout the country, and I think that Americans are going to be really thrilled with the results under this administration in the next 100 days."
Among those arrested were Ramon Ciro Castaneda and Carlos Perez-Perez, members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), both under a "Final Order of Removal," as reported by the Department of Homeland Security to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
McLaughlin further commented on the operation's success, stating, "This success and massive operation is a window into what is to come throughout the country for the next 100 days of the Trump administration." She praised the efforts of state and local law enforcement in executing the president's mandate to secure the border, remove illegal aliens, and ensure America's safety.
President Donald Trump has issued several executive orders aimed at enhancing border security and addressing illegal immigration since taking office on January 20. These orders include designating Mexican drug cartels, TdA, and the Salvadoran gang MS-13 as foreign terrorist organizations, while invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the removal of members of these gangs.
McLaughlin also addressed the recent arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan on obstruction charges. Dugan allegedly misdirected ICE agents seeking to arrest an illegal immigrant appearing before her in court and subsequently escorted the individual out through a back door. McLaughlin expressed her disapproval of such actions, stating, "This is just beyond the pale. I mean, take the Wisconsin judge. The fact she let this individual this illegal alien. American people should know the charges against him more. Strangulation, suffocation, battery, other domestic abuse charges. This is no innocent guy."
She also mentioned a case in New Mexico where a judge and his wife allegedly destroyed evidence related to an illegal immigrant. "The wife and that judge went so far as to destroy evidence including two photos on this criminal illegal aliens phone that showed decapitated individuals, he was sending that around," McLaughlin said. "They went so far as to take a hammer and destroy this phone so that police couldnt access this. We are going continue to go after these activist judges, especially in such egregious cases like this."
Login