THE FOLLOW UP
Jan 13, 2026 · dhs.gov
Niche News

ICE announces arrests of noncitizens convicted of child pornography and other crimes

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Key takeaways

  • ICE announced arrests of multiple noncitizens described as “worst of the worst,” including convictions for child pornography production and possession, aggravated assault, burglary, and false imprisonment.
  • Named individuals and convictions in the release: Denis Pop-Cuz (Guatemala) — possession/filming of child pornography in Stafford, VA; Josue Roa-Bahena (Mexico) — aggravated assault (Harris County, TX); Shawn Lewis (Jamaica) — burglary (Queens, NY); Carlos Alberto Alvarez Cuevas (Mexico) — burglary (Van Nuys, CA); Sergio Salvador Salazar Sorto (El Salvador) — false imprisonment and battery (Los Angeles, CA).
  • The statement by Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said ICE law enforcement is facing a 1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.
  • The release frames the arrests as part of ICE’s "Worst of the Worst" enforcement efforts and emphasizes officer safety and removal of criminal noncitizens.
  • The Department of Homeland Security posted the announcement on its website with a release date of January 13, 2026.

Follow Up Questions

What is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and what are its primary enforcement responsibilities?Expand

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law‑enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Its main jobs are to: (1) enforce U.S. immigration laws in the interior of the country by finding, arresting, detaining, and deporting people who are removable under immigration law, especially those it says threaten public safety or national security; and (2) investigate crimes that cross U.S. borders, such as human smuggling and trafficking, drug and weapons smuggling, money laundering, trade and customs fraud, cybercrime, and other transnational criminal activity.

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What does the term "Worst of the Worst" refer to and is it an official DHS/ICE program or list?Expand

In these DHS and ICE materials, “Worst of the Worst” is a branded DHS/ICE initiative that highlights noncitizens with serious criminal convictions whom ICE has arrested for removal. DHS launched a public website, wow.dhs.gov, and repeatedly uses the phrase and acronym “WOW” in official press releases, but it is not a statutory designation or formal legal list in immigration law; it is a DHS communications and prioritization label for certain enforcement cases.

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The release cites large percentage increases in assaults, vehicle attacks, and death threats — what time period and baseline are those percentages measured against?Expand

The cited percentage increases (1,300% assaults, 3,200% vehicle attacks, 8,000% death threats) compare incidents against ICE officers during roughly the first year of the Trump administration (Jan. 20–Dec. 31, 2025, or Jan. 21, 2025–Jan. 7, 2026 for vehicle attacks) with the same dates in the prior year (2024). DHS says assaults rose from 19 to 275 (a ~1,347% increase) and vehicular attacks from 2 to 66 (a 3,200% increase); the press releases repeat the 8,000% figure for death threats but do not publish the underlying counts.

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How does ICE determine and verify that someone is a "criminal illegal alien" for the purposes of arrest and removal?Expand

For ICE, a “criminal illegal alien” generally means a non‑U.S. citizen who is removable under immigration law and has a criminal conviction or pending criminal charges. ICE determines and documents this by:

  • Checking federal, state, and local criminal databases and court records to confirm identity, immigration status, and criminal history;
  • Using programs like the Criminal Alien Program (CAP) to screen people in jails and prisons and place immigration detainers on those it identifies as removable with criminal records;
  • Applying internal enforcement priorities that rank people with certain convictions (e.g., violent offenses, sex offenses, serious drug crimes) as top targets for arrest and removal. This is an operational and policy label, not a separate legal category in immigration statutes.
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After ICE arrests someone, what are the typical next steps (detention, criminal prosecution, immigration removal proceedings)?Expand

After ICE arrests someone, typical next steps are:

  1. Custody decision: Within about 48 hours in most cases, ICE decides whether to keep the person in immigration detention or release them (often with conditions like check‑ins or an ankle monitor), based on factors such as criminal history, flight risk, and statutory “mandatory detention” rules.
  2. Charging and proceedings: ICE issues a Notice to Appear in immigration court, beginning removal (deportation) proceedings before an immigration judge, where the person can seek relief (e.g., asylum, cancellation of removal) if eligible.
  3. Criminal vs. civil track: If there are pending or new criminal charges, the person may first be held and prosecuted in the criminal system; only after criminal custody ends are they transferred to ICE for immigration detention and removal, or ICE may lodge an immigration detainer while they are in criminal custody.
  4. Outcome: Cases can end in removal from the U.S., termination or dismissal of proceedings, or release (sometimes on bond or parole) if the person wins a form of lawful status or protection.
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Who is Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin and what is her role in ICE or DHS oversight?Expand

Tricia McLaughlin is a political appointee serving as an Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In 2025–2026 DHS press releases she is repeatedly identified as “Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin” speaking on behalf of DHS and ICE on enforcement operations, officer safety, and ICE‑related incidents, indicating she has a senior communications and policy role overseeing or representing DHS leadership on immigration enforcement issues; DHS does not publicly provide a more detailed official biography on its site beyond her title and role in these statements.

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