Federal immigration agents made a series of high-profile arrests in cities across the United States on May 15, targeting undocumented individuals with violent criminal records.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained several non-citizens in sanctuary cities, sparking renewed debate over immigration enforcement and the impact of sanctuary policies on public safety, as Just the News reports.
In Boston, 32-year-old Mexican national Manuel Seberiano Garcia-Munoz was detained by ICE. According to federal authorities, Garcia-Munoz had previously been deported and later convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, for which he served four years in prison. ICE stated that they apprehended him due to his criminal background and immigration violations.
On the same day in Everett, Massachusetts, federal agents arrested 28-year-old Jose Reyes Alvarez, originally from El Salvador. Homeland Security officials allege Alvarez has ties to the gang MS-13, and he was apprehended for operating a vehicle without a license, and his arrest was coordinated with support from ICE’s Los Angeles division.
Later that day in Newark, authorities arrested Oscar Juracan, a 32-year-old Guatemalan national. Juracan had been convicted of aggravated sexual assault committed during a robbery and was sentenced to seven years in prison. He now remains in ICE custody as he awaits deportation proceedings.
In Philadelphia, ICE agents detained Tito Flores-Gonzalez, a 27-year-old citizen of Mexico. Officials revealed that Flores-Gonzalez had been voluntarily deported twice prior to this arrest. He was first taken into custody by Delaware State Police in January 2025 on multiple state charges.
Flores-Gonzalez faced allegations including attempted kidnapping, harassment, and terroristic threats. According to authorities, he was convicted and is currently awaiting removal proceedings in federal custody. Officials reiterated that his prior deportations and repeat offenses played a key role in his federal detention.
Assistant Homeland Secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed strong disapproval of sanctuary city policies in the wake of the arrests. She warned that these local policies, which limit law enforcement cooperation with immigration officials, make it harder for ICE to remove individuals with criminal backgrounds. “These sanctuary politicians are playing Russian roulette with American lives,” McLaughlin said. “While they work to hinder federal efforts, the Department of Homeland Security will continue identifying and removing criminal illegal aliens from American communities.”
McLaughlin added that elected leaders have a duty to safeguard public safety and not shield individuals who pose serious threats. She stated that Americans should not have to fear that known criminals are being protected due to local immigration stances.
Tom Homan, who serves as Trump’s top adviser on border security, emphasized the administration’s immigration enforcement priorities following the arrests. He claimed that illegal border crossings have plummeted nearly 97 percent under the current administration’s tightened security measures. Homan also asserted that financial networks supporting drug cartels are weakening as continued immigration enforcement has disrupted cross-border criminal activity. One of his key responsibilities is leading what officials describe as the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history.
Beyond border security and deportations, Homan said his goals include tracing more than 290,000 missing non-citizen children identified by the Department of Homeland Security in May 2024. The status and welfare of these children remain a top priority for federal authorities, he added.
The arrests have further heightened tensions between the federal government and sanctuary jurisdictions. Local authorities in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Newark have enacted policies limiting how local police may cooperate with federal immigration officers.
Federal officials argue that these policies allow violent offenders to remain in the United States. DHS representatives maintain that public safety is harmed when local law enforcement does not transfer custody of convicted criminals to federal agents once these individuals complete their sentences.
ICE officials said they acted independently where necessary to apprehend the suspects, based on known criminal histories and current intelligence. All four individuals remain in federal detention as proceedings continue regarding their removal from the United States.
While the Biden and previous Trump administrations have both faced scrutiny over immigration enforcement tactics, this latest operation highlights the persistent divide over how best to manage undocumented migrants with violent criminal records.
