Weeklong operation across NM leads to the arrest of 48 violent criminal aliens

​In a concerted effort to enhance public safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with multiple federal agencies, conducted a weeklong enforcement operation culminating on March 8, 2025. This operation led to the apprehension of 48 individuals across three New Mexico cities: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Roswell. 

The individuals targeted during this operation fell into two primary categories: those who had previously been ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge and remained unlawfully and those charged or convicted of serious criminal offenses while residing illegally in the country. Notably, 20 of the arrested individuals had been arrested or convicted of serious criminal offenses, such as homicide, criminal sexual penetration, sexual assault, battery on a household member, aggravated battery, drug trafficking, burglary, forced entry, driving under the influence, and shoplifting. 

The operation was a collaborative effort involving several federal agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service. This multi-agency approach underscores the federal government’s commitment to addressing illegal immigration and enhancing public safety by removing individuals who pose significant threats to communities.​

Mary De Anda-Ybarra, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations El Paso Field Office Director, emphasized the importance of such collaborations, stating, “ICE is grateful for our federal partners’ assistance in taking egregious offenders off the streets and out of our communities.” She further highlighted that these arrests exemplify the type of criminals living among us and highlight ICE’s commitment to the agency’s primary mission of protecting public safety.

The operation’s outcomes reflect ICE’s ongoing efforts to prioritize the apprehension and removal of individuals who pose the greatest risks to national security, public safety, and border security. By focusing resources on those with serious criminal backgrounds and final orders of removal, ICE aims to uphold its mission of enforcing immigration laws while safeguarding communities.​

Routine enforcement actions, such as this operation, are part of ICE’s broader strategy to address illegal immigration and its associated challenges. The agency continues to conduct operations throughout the El Paso area of responsibility, which encompasses West Texas and the state of New Mexico, to identify and apprehend individuals who violate immigration laws and threaten public safety.

The collaborative nature of this operation highlights the effectiveness of interagency federal cooperation in addressing complex issues related to illegal immigration and criminal activity. By leveraging the expertise and resources of multiple federal agencies, the operation successfully identified and apprehended individuals who might have otherwise evaded detection, thereby enhancing the safety and security of communities across New Mexico.​

By targeting those with serious criminal histories and final orders of removal, the operation underscores the President Donald Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and protecting public safety. Such collaborative efforts are essential in addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with illegal immigration and ensuring the well-being of communities nationwide.​