What is Operation Angel’s Honor? ICE’s nationwide crackdown honoring Laken Riley leads to over 1,000 arrests

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it arrested more than 1,000 criminal undocumented immigrants during a 14-day nationwide enforcement action known as Operation Angel’s Honor, launched in memory of Laken Riley. According to ICE, the operation resulted in the arrest of more than 1,030 criminal illegal aliens under the Laken Riley Act, a law signed by President Donald Trump that mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes, including assault, burglary and offences causing serious injury or death.

The operation was named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by a Venezuelan national identified by authorities as a member of the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. ICE said the suspect had previously been arrested, paroled into the US, re-arrested and released before the killing.

“In honor of Laken Riley, ICE launched Operation Angel’s Honor — in the last two weeks alone arresting more than 1,000 criminal illegal aliens under the authority of the Laken Riley Act,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.



ICE Director Todd Lyons said the operation was intended both as an enforcement effort and a reminder of the impact of violent crime on victims and families.

ICE also criticised so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, saying they refused to hand over criminal undocumented immigrants, forcing officers to re-arrest suspects in the community.

Who are the ‘Worst criminal aliens’

ICE highlighted several arrests made during the operation, top three are:

• Alejandro Ojose-Asto, a 37-year-old Peruvian national arrested on December 10, whose criminal history includes arrests for rape, assault with intent to cause injury, unlawful imprisonment and obstruction of breathing.
  
• Marvin Mendez-Torrez, a 24-year-old Nicaraguan national arrested on December 11, with prior arrests including assault on a law enforcement officer, drug possession, larceny and resisting arrest.
  
• Carlos Gomez-Diaz, a 27-year-old Mexican national arrested on December 11, who has a conviction for sexual exploitation of a child.
  

What is Operation Angel’s Honor?

Operation Angel’s Honor is a 14-day nationwide enforcement campaign launched by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in December 2025 (concluded on Monday, December 22) in memory of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed by an undocumented immigrant. Under the authority of the Laken Riley Act, the operation targeted undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes, including assault, burglary and offences causing serious injury or death. ICE said the operation led to the arrest of more than 1,030 criminal undocumented immigrants across the United States. Officials said the initiative aimed to remove individuals with serious criminal records and prevent further violent crimes.