U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a Nigerian national, Raphael Oludemilade-Adebowale, who was convicted of larceny and money laundering in Massachusetts.
Oludemilade-Adebowale was among several foreign nationals arrested by ICE in the United States over criminal convictions, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday.
The agency said the arrests were part of its ongoing immigration enforcement operations targeting what it described as “the worst of the worst” illegal aliens.
According to the statement, Oludemilade-Adebowale is a “criminal illegal alien from Nigeria” who was convicted of larceny and money laundering in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
The Department of Homeland Security did not provide further details about the offences or the sentences handed down to the Nigerian.
ICE said it arrested nearly 51,000 illegal aliens in August as the administration of President Donald Trump continues its immigration enforcement campaign.
Announcing the latest arrests, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said the agency would continue targeting undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes.
“Yesterday, ICE law enforcement arrested murderers, pedophiles, stalkers, and other dangerous illegal aliens,” Mullin said.
“Despite sanctuary politicians’ attempts to harbor them, there will be no safe haven for illegal aliens under President Trump’s leadership,” he added.
Mullin said the administration would prioritise the removal of undocumented immigrants it considers a threat to public safety.
“We will always put America first by arresting and removing illegal aliens who should have never been in our country at all,” he said. “Deporting illegal aliens saves lives.”
Other individuals listed among the arrests include Cong Tuan Dang, a Vietnamese national convicted of manslaughter and robbery in New York City; Mario Eguizabal-Sandoval, from El Salvador, convicted of two counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 in Los Angeles; Mohamed Dida, a Kenyan national convicted of aggravated stalking in Illinois; and Roberto Ramirez-Gallegos, from Mexico, convicted of three counts of dangerous drugs in Dallas.
The Department of Homeland Security said the arrests formed part of ICE’s broader immigration enforcement activities across the country.
