DHS Releases Details on Suspected Criminal Immigrants Arrested in Los Angeles Amid Unrest

Beginning June 6, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a targeted enforcement operation in Los Angeles, resulting in the apprehension of over a dozen individuals who are in the country illegally and suspected of committing serious crimes. The arrests come as tensions rise in the city, with protests and violence breaking out over the weekend in response to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.

According to DHS, many of the individuals taken into custody have criminal records that include charges such as robbery, sexual assault, and even murder. The agency released detailed information on 19 individuals arrested on June 7, underscoring their intention to prioritize the removal of individuals they describe as posing significant threats to public safety.

“America’s brave ICE officers are removing the worst of the worst from LA’s streets, while LA’s leaders are working tirelessly against them,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. The department expressed concern that local and state officials are impeding efforts to enforce federal immigration laws, especially in jurisdictions that identify as sanctuary cities.

The violence that erupted in Downtown Los Angeles over the weekend was largely seen as a response to the ICE operations. While some claimed the demonstrations were in protest of immigration enforcement actions, law enforcement officials argued that the gatherings quickly escalated into unlawful behavior.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco strongly criticized the protests, saying the events have little to do with peaceful expression and more to do with attempting to disrupt law enforcement through aggressive tactics. “They are not protesting,” Bianco said. “They are trying to violently influence something through political pressure. That is what the Constitution stands against.”

Sheriff Bianco, a Republican and current gubernatorial candidate, directed particular criticism at California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of encouraging lawlessness and interfering with the responsibilities of law enforcement. “Governor Newsom needs to put his phone down, sit back, and stop fueling this process,” Bianco stated. “He has no understanding of law enforcement, and his actions are encouraging the very behavior that threatens public safety.”

Among those apprehended were individuals with extensive criminal histories. Here are a few of the most notable cases shared by DHS:

• Lionel Sanchez-Laguna, a 55-year-old from Mexico, was arrested with a record that includes firing a weapon at a dwelling, domestic violence, child cruelty, DUI, and assault with a semi-automatic firearm in Orange, California.

• Cuong Chanh Phan, a 49-year-old Vietnamese national, had previously been convicted of second-degree murder for his involvement in a 1994 shooting at a graduation party that left multiple people injured. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

• Cielo Vivar-Ubaldo, a Mexican national who had been previously deported, was taken into custody again. He has prior convictions for unlawful sex with a minor, narcotics-related offenses, and hit-and-run charges.

• Jose Cristobal Hernandez-Buitron, a 43-year-old from Peru, was arrested based on a past robbery conviction that resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.

• Julian Riveros-Cadavid, a Colombian citizen, was arrested for immigration violations. He had previous arrests for domestic battery, child endangerment, grand theft, and drug offenses.

• Rolando Veneracion-Enriquez, 55, from the Philippines, has a criminal record that includes assault, burglary, theft, and a conviction for sexual penetration with force. His offenses in Pomona, California, carry a combined sentence of 37 years.

• Victor Mendoza-Aguilar, 32, from Mexico, had prior convictions involving narcotics, possession of illegal paraphernalia, assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting law enforcement.

• Armando Ordaz, a 44-year-old Mexican national, had been previously charged with sexual battery, petty theft, and possession of stolen property in the Los Angeles area.

The arrests underscore the federal government’s ongoing efforts to target non-citizens with serious criminal histories. While DHS insists that operations are focused on individuals who pose a clear danger to the community, critics argue that such actions unfairly target immigrant populations and fuel anti-immigrant sentiment.

As unrest continues in parts of Los Angeles, the clash between federal immigration enforcement and local political leadership remains at the center of a larger national debate over border security, criminal justice, and immigration policy. DHS and ICE have stated that more operations are likely to follow as part of their mission to ensure public safety through the enforcement of immigration laws.