Several undocumented immigrants detained during recent ICE raids that sparked riots in Los Angeles have lengthy criminal records, including convictions for sexual assault, gang-related activities, and even murder.
One individual, 49-year-old Cuong Chanh Phan, was implicated in a series of violent attacks and became a focal point during protests calling for immigration reform. He has been convicted of two murders. The first occurred in 1994 when, after being ejected from a high school graduation celebration, he returned with gang members and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, resulting in multiple casualties, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security.
Another individual taken into custody during the weekend operations was 55-year-old Rolando Venesion Enriquez from the Philippines, who had been sentenced to 37 years for rape and attempted sexual assault in Pomona, California.
Despite the serious nature of these crimes, demonstrators attempted to block ICE agents from making arrests, gathering around detention facilities in downtown LA. In response, President Trump deployed the National Guard to help manage the situation.
The alarming criminal backgrounds of some detainees raise concerns within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who perceive the protests as misdirected. “The individuals the protesters are defending include actual criminals—sex offenders, gang members, and worse,” a source from ICE stated.
The source elaborated, “People think everyone is innocent, but that’s simply not the case.” The list of offenders continues to grow.
Among those arrested is 44-year-old Armando Aldaz, a Mexican national linked to the Bratz 13 gang and convicted for sexual assault in Los Angeles. Another individual, 51-year-old Delfino Aguilar-Martinez, also a Mexican citizen, was arrested on Friday for assault with a deadly weapon. Meanwhile, 55-year-old Lionel Sanchez Laguna has a string of offenses including weapons charges and domestic abuse.
Additionally, 32-year-old Victor Mendoza-Aguilar was apprehended for possession of controlled substances and tools, along with assault with a deadly weapon.
Some of the other undocumented individuals rounded up over the weekend have prior convictions for drug trafficking, robbery, and grand theft.
California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have criticized Trump for allegedly inciting the riots and for deploying the National Guard without state consultation. However, DHS believes that local leaders are mischaracterizing the issue, pointing to the criminal histories of those involved as part of the problem. “These are the very people the protesters are trying to defend, while risking the safety of U.S. citizens,” a DHS spokesperson remarked.
