Gulf Coast News Anchor Elyse Chengery went directly with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to show you what happens behind the scenes when ICE makes arrests right here on our Gulf Coast.
Chengery has been in touch with ICE since 2024 to work on showing the community the process.
On Wednesday, agents were out before the sun came up as teams work diligently to safely make an arrests and take criminals off the streets. "It's very rewarding when days like today, when we could take a sex offender off the streets and make our community a better place to live," Alvin Vincent with the Department of Homeland Security said.
The first arrest - Darwin Villarroel Saucedo in Lee County, "He is an illegal in our country. He came in as a visitor. Never left. He is wanted for sexual assault on a minor. When we get these tips, we take them seriously. We go," Vincent said.
Records show Saucedo is here from Bolivia with a citizenship in Spain.
As law enforcement surrounds a home in Lee County early Wednesday morning, they explain this is a process where they receive tips, which get investigated, and then arrests are made.
"We aren't here to create fear for the public. We're here to protect the homeland by arresting and removing individuals who undermine our public safety and immigration laws. We aren't here to create hysteria. We're here to protect our homeland, protect our friends and loved ones. It's a job that my staff and my partners take seriously."
When asking if these agencies have seen a difference between the current administration and prior administrations when it comes to ICE arrests, we're told the day-to-day has really been the same, and these officers today have been doing this for well over 20 years with ICE.
But we were told the expectancies are higher now.
Before we know it, it was off to another arrest - we're told and shown records that these arrests are criminals with extensive backgrounds... gangs, crimes against kids, and even the search for a hire for hitman.
"That's his car. That's the vehicle right there to our right. Yes, sir. I believe they've located tango. They've located the target. Let's go!"
And with that, ICE agents pick up Cristian Alberto Rivas-Escalante here illegally from El Salvador.
With two wanted men now off our streets, both will remain in ICE custody until they face an immigration judge.
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