U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested nine individuals with prior convictions for sex crimes during a targeted operation in the greater Los Angeles area, according to a statement released on Mar. 12.
The arrests are part of ICE’s ongoing efforts to remove dangerous criminals from communities and uphold public safety. The agency said those taken into custody will face justice for their crimes and be removed from the United States.
“ICE isn’t going to stand idly by while criminal illegal alien sex offenders roam Los Angeles or any other community,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “We’re here to enforce the law so we can protect our families, friends and neighbors — and by taking child rapists and other sexual predators like these nine off the streets, we can prevent recidivism and make an immediate difference in public safety.”
ICE reported that since Jan. 20, 2025, California has refused to honor immigration detainers on 4,561 criminal illegal aliens under Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration, including murderers and sex offenders. The agency stated that this policy results in the release of dangerous individuals back into local communities.
Among those arrested were Darwin Vazquez-Ramos, Juan Parra Gomez, Lucas Rendon-Hernandez, Jose Montero Pena, Amadeo Castellanos-Urbano, Andres Sanchez Ortiz, Feliciano Olivares, Daniel Bran Rivas, and Luis Alfonso Juarez—all described as registered sex offenders with convictions ranging from lewd acts with children to rape.
ICE maintains approximately 33,179 active detainers for criminal illegal aliens in California’s prisons at various levels. The agency called on state authorities to honor these detainers so that such individuals can be removed from the country permanently.
The statement concluded by saying that sanctuary policies attract criminals while placing public safety threats above law-abiding citizens’ interests.
