Florida Arrests Over 150 Illegal Immigrant Sex Offenders

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Wednesday that more than 150 illegal immigrants with sexual offense charges have been detained in Florida. This initiative is part of a larger strategy aimed at reducing crime, achieved through collaboration with state and local authorities.

“Every day we work to make America a safer and more secure place. It’s an important mission,” Noem shared during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.” She mentioned that Operation Criminal Return specifically targets child sex offenders involved in serious crimes like sexual assault and attempted murder. The success of this operation, she noted, has heavily relied on the backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

“These 150 individuals are off our streets, which means our children will be safer. This partnership with Governor DeSantis serves as a model we hope to replicate across the nation,” she added.

Noem expressed her concerns, stating, “These individuals should never have entered our country. The fact that they were sexual deviants is alarming. We’ve now removed them from our communities, but we need to do more.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also increasing resources to other regions, such as Chicago, where resistance to the previous administration’s policies had been strong.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that since the launch of Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, crime rates have significantly dropped—homicides fell by 16%, shootings by 35%, and robberies by 41%.

Noem expressed satisfaction with these outcomes but was critical of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who has challenged the administration’s actions related to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other federal bodies. “His personal attacks on President Trump endanger public safety,” she asserted.

Looking ahead, Noem stated, “We’re committed to putting more resources into this effort. Chicago isn’t our only focus; we’re expanding to other cities as well. While I can’t disclose specific operations, rest assured, we will not let up. Our goal is to protect families.”

She concluded by emphasizing that the significant security changes seen in Chicago need to be implemented in more cities. “I’m thankful to the Border Patrol and ICE agents who risk their lives daily to ensure our safety,” she remarked.