Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined federal agents in Arizona on Tuesday for an early morning immigration enforcement operation in Phoenix, where three illegal migrants with serious criminal records were arrested.
The raid is part of a broader crackdown under President Trump’s immigration enforcement directive.
Noem, wearing full tactical gear, including a flak jacket, participated directly in the multi-agency operation.
Arizona is safer this morning after a successful operation getting criminal illegal aliens and gang members off our streets.
Thank you to our brave law enforcement officers.
If you are in this country illegally, we will find you, arrest you, and send you back. pic.twitter.com/GpsC4F4KI6
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) April 8, 2025
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The raid, organized by Phoenix-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, also included personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
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Prior to the operation, Noem met agents in an underground parking garage and thanked them for their work.
“The effort of cooperation we have between agencies is getting turned onto steroids,” Noem said.
“We have this being multiplied across the country exponentially, now anyone who’s in this country illegally that’s committing crimes and has broken our laws will face consequences. We’ll be sweeping them up faster than we ever have before.”
The first arrest of the day involved Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, a Mexican national with a history of violent crime and reported ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.
DHS officials confirmed he had previous convictions for aggravated assault and weapons violations.
He also has an active homicide warrant in Mexico and had been ordered removed from the United States in 2008.
The second suspect taken into custody was Jose Escobar-Robles. According to officials, Escobar-Robles is linked to Monroy Enterprises, a business accused of funneling money to Mexican cartels involved in narcotics and human trafficking.
As agents took him into custody, Escobar-Robles attempted to block cameras using his Croc shoe.
Noem responded, “You’re gonna go — you’re gonna go home, and you’re gonna get prosecuted,” adding, “You’re not scaring me with your Crocs.”
This illegal was so mad he was getting arrested so he tried blocking us and hiding with his CROC.
DHS Secretary Noem: “You’re not scaring me with your crocs”
😂😂😂 https://t.co/OGe4eRvfQ7 pic.twitter.com/ooGR5uVyNt
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 8, 2025
The third individual arrested was Luis Garcia-Sanchez, 61, who is reportedly affiliated with the 18th Street Gang and has outstanding felony narcotics charges dating back to 1987.
DHS confirmed that Garcia-Sanchez had twice been ordered removed from the country.
He was arrested barefoot in a residence filled with marijuana smoke, according to agents. His wife retrieved shoes for him before he was placed in custody.
While seated in the back of a police vehicle, Garcia-Sanchez told reporters he was no longer involved with the gang and was focused on his family.
He said he wanted to set a better example for his children. Noem replied, “Go deal with the consequences of breaking the law here. Give them an example of being a better person.”
Also present during the raid was Corey Lewandowski, former Trump campaign manager and senior adviser, who introduced himself to agents as “chief of staff.”
DHS clarified that Lewandowski currently serves as an adviser to the department and holds the role of special government employee.
Following the operation, Noem reiterated that immigration enforcement will intensify, particularly under new provisions of the Alien Registration Act of 1940, set to take effect on April 11.
The law mandates that foreign nationals residing in the U.S. for more than 30 days must register with federal authorities or face penalties including fines, imprisonment, or removal.
“We’re past the deadline of the Alien Registration Act, so everyone in this country illegally now, it’s a criminal charge,” Noem said.
“If you’ve been here longer than 30 days and haven’t registered with the government, we are now coming after you criminally. That means we can come into your home and get you, charge you and remove you, and the fines are up to $1,000 a day.”
Noem also confirmed that the administration is utilizing the Alien Enemies Act following the Supreme Court’s removal of a prior block on its enforcement.
This provision allows the transfer of criminal foreign nationals to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a high-security prison facility.
“We’re going to continue using that act in order to return people from these terrorist organizations to face consequences and be removed from our country,” she said.
“CECOT has the capacity for 40,000 individuals, and [El Salvador President Nayib Bukele] has said they’ll take as many as we want to send. There’s 14,000 there now, and he said he plans to build another prison right next to it.”
Incredible images of the transferring of 2.000 gang members to the new anti #terrorism prison centre (CECOT) in El Salvador under the orders of president #Nayib Bukele.
What’s your opinion of these new changes in El #Salvador? pic.twitter.com/emMVEblHiv— MIGUEL AMORTEGUI (@MIGUELAMORTEG13) February 25, 2023
Noem confirmed that similar operations will continue across the country in the coming weeks.
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