Markwayne Mullin received praise as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested several illegal aliens convicted of serious crimes on March 24, 2026.

The arrests, which took place across the country, coincided with Mullin officially taking office as the new Secretary of Homeland Security.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the operation targeted individuals with convictions for sexual abuse of a child, rape, and assault of a family member.

Nearly 70% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE nationwide have criminal convictions or pending charges in the United States.

Arrests Include Convicted Sex Offenders

The individuals arrested and their convictions were:

• Oscar Edgardo Rogel-Gomez, from El Salvador, convicted of sexual abuse of a child in St. George, Utah.
• Alcides Ordonez-Cruz, from Honduras, convicted of third-degree gross sexual imposition and endangering children in Van Wert County, Ohio.
• Jose Gonzalez-Diaz, from El Salvador, convicted of rape in Riverhead, New York.
• Jose Vazquez-Cardoza, from El Salvador, convicted of rape in Riverhead, New York.
• Jose Simaj-Barrera, from Guatemala, convicted of assault of a family member in Harris County, Texas.

These arrests formed part of ongoing ICE operations to remove convicted criminals from U.S. communities.

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Statement From DHS Official

“Yesterday, the heroic men and women of ICE arrested multiple child predators, rapists, domestic abusers, and other heinous criminals,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will arrest you, deport you, and you will never return.”

The DHS released the information through an official press release on its website. Details of the arrests, including names and convictions, are available on the DHS public safety threats webpage.

Why This Matters

These arrests show the new leadership at DHS moving quickly to target convicted criminals who entered the country illegally.

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The cases involve direct harm to children and families through sexual abuse, rape, and domestic assault. Removing these individuals reduces the risk of further crimes in American communities.

The operation also fits a broader pattern. Earlier in March, DHS reported removing more than 700,000 criminal illegal aliens in the past year. Officials have stated that public safety remains the priority, with ICE focusing resources on those already convicted of violent or sexual offenses. Americans can check local arrest information on the DHS website.