ICE Arrests Illegal Aliens with Criminal Records in Sanctuary Cities

Agents apprehended sex offenders, rapists, fentanyl dealers, and burglars across sanctuary jurisdictions

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency arrested several illegal aliens with criminal records this week, including sex offenders, rapists, fentanyl dealers, and burglars, across various sanctuary cities and states.

Why it matters

The arrests highlight the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with ICE, as the agency seeks to remove public safety threats from American communities.

The details

Among those arrested were Gasper Florentino, an MS-13 gang member previously convicted of sexual assault in Fairfax, Virginia; Juan Leonardo Alvarado-Gonzalez, convicted of sexual assault on a child in Chicago; Yancarlos Marte-Morel, convicted of fentanyl distribution in Massachusetts; Rudy Euceda, convicted of drug crimes in New York; and Minh Tai Son Tran, convicted of burglary in Fairfax, Virginia.

  • The arrests took place this week across various sanctuary cities and states.

The players

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the United States.

Gasper Florentino

An MS-13 gang member previously convicted of sexual assault in Fairfax, Virginia.

Juan Leonardo Alvarado-Gonzalez

An illegal alien previously convicted of sexual assault on a child in Chicago, Illinois.

Yancarlos Marte-Morel

An illegal alien previously convicted of fentanyl distribution in Massachusetts.

Rudy Euceda

An illegal alien previously convicted of drug crimes in New York.

Minh Tai Son Tran

An illegal alien previously convicted of burglary in Fairfax, Virginia.

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What they’re saying

“Contrary to what Senators Dick Durbin and Alex Padilla said in Secretary Noem's Senate hearing today, nearly 70 percent of illegal aliens arrested by ICE have criminal records. Just yesterday, ICE arrested MS-13 gang members, child predators, and drug traffickers.”

— Lauren Bis, Department of Homeland Security

The takeaway

This operation highlights the ongoing debate over sanctuary policies, as federal immigration authorities seek to remove illegal aliens with criminal records from American communities, while some local jurisdictions limit cooperation with these efforts.