ICE arrests announced by the Department of Homeland Security on September 28, 2026, include 15 noncitizens whom the agency says had convictions for serious offenses ranging from murder and reckless homicide to child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and burglary.
DHS described the ICE arrests as part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s interior enforcement work and said the individuals were taken into custody over the weekend in several states.
The ICE arrests involved people from Laos, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the Federated States of Micronesia and Nigeria.
DHS did not provide arrest dates, detailed case documents, immigration histories or information about the next court dates for the individuals listed in the release.
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What DHS said about the weekend ICE arrests
The agency said the arrests involved people with criminal convictions in jurisdictions across the country.
The list included Sakhone Lasaphangthong, whom DHS identified as a Laotian national convicted of murder in Sacramento, California.
It also included Israel Espinosa-Trejo, identified as a Mexican national convicted of reckless homicide in Indianapolis, and Ruben Ayala-Laies, identified as a Cuban national convicted of second-degree murder in Union County, Florida.
DHS identified Jose Alcaraz-Carranza as a Mexican national convicted in Tulare, California, of lewd and lascivious acts involving a child under 14.
Marvin Martinez, identified as a national of the Dominican Republic, was described as having convictions for sexual abuse of a minor and possession of a controlled substance in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
The release also named Joel Velazco-Carrizosa, whom DHS said was convicted of second-degree sexual assault of a child in New Orleans.
Another person, Ana Glenda Beatriz Melendez-Alvarado, was identified as a Salvadoran national convicted of child abuse causing great bodily injury or death in Los Angeles.
DHS said Edgar Tranquilino Moran-Bautista, identified as a Mexican national, had a conviction for sodomy by force in Madera County, California.
Other offenses cited in ICE arrests included weapons, drugs and property crimes
The remaining ICE arrests involved a range of violent, drug-related, weapons and property offenses.
DHS said Melvin Alcon, identified as a Salvadoran national, had convictions for two counts of assault and criminal possession of a weapon in Mineola, New York.
Kimer Kintin, identified as a national of the Federated States of Micronesia, was described as having two convictions for neglect of a dependent person in Plymouth County, Iowa.
The announcement said Alfredo Castanos-Mendoza, identified as a Mexican national, was convicted of conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute in Houston.
Fray Paniagua, identified as a national of the Dominican Republic, was described as convicted of delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
DHS said Greg Chukwuka Orji, identified as a Nigerian national, had convictions involving dangerous drugs and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Nelson Argueta-Cruz, identified as a Salvadoran national, was listed as having convictions for burglary, grand larceny, larceny and a probation violation in Fairfax, Virginia.
The final person listed was Furvio Flete-Garcia, identified as a Dominican national convicted of fraud and illegal re-entry in Boston.
An ICE arrest does not automatically mean immediate deportation
An ICE arrest is an immigration enforcement action, but it does not by itself establish that a person will be removed from the United States immediately.
According to ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations handles the identification, arrest, detention and removal of people who are subject to removal or are unlawfully present in the country.
Some detained individuals remain in custody while their immigration cases proceed, while others may be released under supervision depending on the circumstances of the case.
ICE says custody decisions can consider criminal records, immigration history, family ties, humanitarian concerns and flight risk.
Removal generally requires a final order of removal, although immigration law provides different procedures for certain categories of cases.
The release did not say whether each person named already had a final removal order, whether any had pending appeals or whether any had been transferred to a specific detention facility.
What happens after ICE arrests
After ICE arrests, the agency may process the person for immigration violations and determine whether detention is required or appropriate.
A person may appear in immigration court if removal proceedings are initiated or continue.
The immigration court process is separate from the criminal cases referenced by DHS, meaning a prior criminal conviction and an immigration case are not the same legal proceeding.
Depending on the case, a person may seek relief from removal, challenge the government’s allegations, request bond or pursue an appeal.
ICE says people in custody and their representatives can contact the relevant Enforcement and Removal Operations field office for case review information.
Families seeking to locate someone detained by ICE can use the agency’s Online Detainee Locator System or contact the appropriate field office.
DHS links the ICE arrests to its public-safety strategy
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the arrests demonstrate the administration’s focus on people the department considers public-safety threats.
The statement also repeated the administration’s broader claim that there had been no releases at the border for 16 months under President Donald Trump.
That border-related assertion was not supported with a data table or detailed methodology in the release.
The announcement directed readers to DHS’s “Worst of the Worst” webpage for additional public-safety cases.
The release was written as an agency announcement and did not include statements from defense attorneys, family members, prosecutors or the courts involved in the underlying criminal cases.
Why the details of each case matter
Criminal convictions can affect immigration custody and removal decisions, but the impact depends on the offense, sentence, immigration status, prior removal history and other case-specific facts.
The DHS release used broad descriptions of the convictions and did not provide charging documents, sentencing records or links to state and federal court files.
Those records may be needed to independently evaluate the precise conduct, disposition and status of each case.
For that reason, the agency’s descriptions should be understood as claims about the listed individuals’ records rather than as a complete legal history for every person named.
ICE arrests are often followed by detention, court proceedings or supervised release, and the final outcome can differ from the initial agency announcement.
What affected families can do
Family members who believe a relative has been detained should gather the person’s full name, date of birth, country of birth and any immigration identification number before contacting ICE.
They should also seek advice from a qualified immigration attorney or an accredited representative, particularly if the person has a prior removal order, criminal conviction or pending immigration case.
People in detention generally have access to legal resources, although the government does not provide a free attorney in every immigration case.
Because immigration deadlines can be short, families should verify hearing dates and custody information directly with ICE or the immigration court rather than relying solely on social media posts or unofficial databases.
The September 28 announcement provides a snapshot of the weekend arrests but does not establish the final immigration disposition of any person listed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people did DHS say ICE arrested over the weekend?
DHS listed 15 people in its September 28, 2026 announcement and said they were arrested by ICE over the weekend.
What types of convictions did DHS cite?
The release cited convictions involving murder, homicide, child sexual abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, assault, weapons, drug distribution, burglary, fraud and illegal re-entry.
Does an ICE arrest mean a person will be deported immediately?
No. An arrest may lead to detention and immigration proceedings, but removal generally depends on the person’s case, legal status and whether a final removal order exists.
How can a family locate someone detained by ICE?
Families can use ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System or contact the appropriate ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office. Legal counsel may also help obtain case information.
Fact-Checked: The arrest list and agency statements were checked against the supplied DHS release. Additional process context was checked against ICE’s official Enforcement and Removal Operations, detention and statistics pages. ([ice.gov](https://www.ice.gov/detention-facilities?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: This article summarizes a DHS agency announcement; individual immigration outcomes and criminal records should be confirmed through official court and case records.
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