Over 17,500 Arrested Under Laken Riley Act in 2025; DHS Says Two-Week Sweep Netted 1,000+

More than 17,500 noncitizens were arrested in 2025 on charges that trigger mandatory detention under the Laken Riley Act — the first law President Donald Trump signed in his second term. The statute, named for Georgia college student Laken Riley, was passed after she was murdered by a Venezuelan national who had previously been arrested and released.

Under the Laken Riley Act, certain arrested noncitizens — even if not yet convicted — must be held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention and processing. Qualifying offenses include theft-related crimes, driving under the influence (DUI/DWI), and violent offenses such as murder, rape, sexual abuse, assault on law enforcement officers, and firearms violations.

Operation Angel’s Honor, a two-week nationwide enforcement effort launched by DHS in Riley’s name, concluded this week. Secretary Kristi Noem said the operation averaged dozens of arrests per day and resulted in more than 1,000 arrests during that period.

Kristi Noem: "In honor of Laken Riley, ICE launched Operation Angel’s Honor — in the last 2 weeks alone arresting more than 1,000 criminal illegal aliens under the authority of the Laken Riley Act."

Noem credited the president for empowering DHS to pursue criminal noncitizens living in the U.S. and said the department will continue efforts to hold those individuals accountable. "We can never bring Laken back, but we can do everything in our power to bring these heinous criminals to justice," she said.

Yaser Garcia Ramirez, left inset, and Santos Chim-Diego, right inset, are seen against a backdrop of a Department of Homeland Security operation.

Notable Arrests Identified by DHS

DHS released examples of individuals arrested during Operation Angel’s Honor, citing prior convictions or charges that placed them within the law’s scope:

• Sergio Luis Hernandez Gonzalez (Cuba): Convicted on 17 counts of larceny, two counts of selling cocaine, vehicle theft and other offenses.
• Jersson Andrey Poveda Delgado (Colombia): Convicted of assaulting a police officer.
• Yaser Garcia Ramirez (Dominican Republic): Charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute heroin, domestic violence and obstruction of law enforcement.
• Santos Chim-Diego (Guatemala): Convicted of resisting and assaulting an officer, DUI and child cruelty.
• Hamid Abdulimam Al Nassar (Iraq): Convicted on offenses including procuring a minor for prostitution, multiple drug crimes, fraud, embezzlement and aggravated assault.
• Nathaniel Sterling (Jamaica): Detained after convictions for carnal abuse, weapons possession and disorderly conduct.
• Omar Barojas-Arenas (Mexico): Arrested following a kidnapping conviction.
• Jorby Joel Escuraina-Suarez (Venezuela): Convicted of aggravated assault with a weapon.

Critics Raise Due-Process Concerns

While DHS has framed enforcement under the Laken Riley Act as a public-safety victory, critics say the law risks detaining and deporting people who may not pose a continuing danger because it bases federal custody on arrest rather than conviction.

Nayna Gupta, American Immigration Council: "This bill does nothing to improve safety or fix our broken immigration system. Under the guise of preventing violence, the bill forces immigration officers to indefinitely detain and deport non-citizens who pose no public safety risk, without access to basic due process."

Opponents also argue the statute shifts enforcement power and could expand state influence over immigration policy. Supporters counter that the law is intended to keep dangerous offenders from being released pending further proceedings.

The debate underscores a broader conflict over how to balance public safety, immigration enforcement and constitutional protections. DHS says enforcement will continue as the agency implements the law nationwide.