stanforddams/biglocal huggingface dataset:
September 23, 2025Albuquerque, NM, United StatesNarcotics

Convicted felon faces federal drug trafficking charges following ICE El Paso investigation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A previously convicted felon is facing new federal charges after allegedly engaging in drug trafficking while being on supervised release, following an investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations El Paso.

Pecos Valley Drug Task Force members also investigated the case.

According to court documents, on Sept. 3, agents from the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the residence of Jason Cunningham, 46, in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Inside, agents located about 1,090 grams of methamphetamine and 56 grams of cocaine.

“Methamphetamine is one of the most destructive narcotics on the street. This type of crime is an assault on public health and safety, and individuals such as Cunningham profit off human misery,” said Jason T. Stevens, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI is united with our law enforcement partners to use every resource at our disposal to cut off their supply chains and hold them accountable.”

Cunningham is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and will remain in custody pending trial. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.

Read more on Justice.gov.

Updated: 09/23/2025
September 8, 2025San Diego, CA, United StatesDocument and Benefit Fraud

Couple charged in cross-border identity theft and immigration fraud scheme following ICE investigation

SAN DIEGO — An ICE investigation has led to federal charges against Luis Enrique Villegas Brownell, a Mexican citizen without legal status, and his girlfriend, Kassandra Sanchez, a U.S. citizen, for identity theft and multiple federal crimes. The pair allegedly stole Sanchez’s brother’s identity to facilitate Villegas’s illegal entry into the United States, where he fraudulently obtained a state ID and crossed the border over 50 times using the stolen identity. Villegas also used the identity to commit other crimes, including smuggling an undocumented immigrant and fraudulently obtaining state public benefits, while Sanchez was on supervised release for a prior federal drug smuggling conviction.

"Identity theft and immigration fraud are not just crimes — they are deeply personal violations that can disrupt lives and livelihoods. No one wants their identity stolen and used maliciously, and this case serves as a powerful reminder of the far-reaching consequences these crimes can have on individuals and communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations San Diego Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson. “HSI remains committed to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that exploit our borders and violate the law, ensuring those responsible are held accountable and justice is served."

Read more on Justice.gov.

Updated: 09/08/2025
March 4, 2026Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDetainee Death Notifications

Criminal illegal alien passes away in California hospital

LOS ANGELES — Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, 48, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, died in ICE custody Feb. 27 at Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville. He was pronounced deceased at 12:58 a.m. after being hospitalized for chest pain and shortness of breath.

Gutierrez entered the United States at an unknown date and location without inspection.

Gutierrez was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department March 25, 2010, for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. He was convicted March 29, 2010, and sentenced to diversion.

U.S. Border Patrol arrested Gutierrez Jan. 9 during immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles and transferred him to ICE custody. He was placed into immigration proceedings Jan. 11 for being present in the United States without admission and moved to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center Jan. 12, pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.

On January 12, his medical intake exam was conducted by a physician, and he reported no significant concerns.

On Feb. 25, Gutierrez reported feeling faint. An on-site medical provider ordered him transferred to Victor Valley Global Medical Center for evaluation, where he was admitted for chest pain and shortness of breath. Early Feb. 27, he became unresponsive and medical staff-initiated life-saving measures. He was pronounced dead at 12:58 a.m.

ICE notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Mexican consulate, as required by agency policy. ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov’s Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov’s Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.

This is the best healthcare than many aliens have received in their entire lives.

Updated: 03/04/2026
March 30, 2026Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDetainee Death Notifications

Criminal illegal alien passes away in ICE custody

LOS ANGELES — Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance and theft, passed away on March 25, 2026, at 9:29 p.m. Ramos was being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center when security staff discovered him unconscious and unresponsive. Staff immediately initiated life-saving procedures, and he was taken to Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville, California, where he was pronounced deceased.

Ramos was arrested by the Redondo Beach Police Department on May 6, 2025, for possession of a controlled substance and theft of personal property. He was convicted by the Superior Court of Los Angeles on August 21, 2025. Then, on February 23, 2026, ICE arrested Ramos during a targeted law enforcement operation in Torrance, California and transferred him to the Adelanto detention center.

On arrival at Adelanto, Ramos received a complete health and physical evaluation during his intake screening Feb. 24. ICE identified several medical issues, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. He received constant medical care while he was in custody, including daily medication to treat his illness.

On March 25, 2026, Adelanto security staff observed Ramos unconscious and unresponsive in his bunk. They immediately called onsite medical staff, who initiated life saving measures, including CPR. Staff also immediately called emergency services, who swiftly responded to the scene and initiated advanced life support interventions. Ramos was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. ERO has notified the Mexican consulate which is assisting in locating his next of kin or other designated contact in accordance with international and domestic laws.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders, and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov's Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. These reports reside on ICE.gov's Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental, and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.

Updated: 03/30/2026
January 27, 2026Boston, MA, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

Criminal illegal alien sentenced to prison for assaulting ICE officers during Massachusetts arrest

The Guatemalan criminal illegal alien bit, head-butted, struck and spat at officers during his arrest for immigration violations

BOSTON — Guido Andres Alexander Cuellar-Batres, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, was sentenced in federal court Jan. 12 to eight months in prison and one year of supervised release for attacking ICE officials during a targeted enforcement action. Cuellar, who has prior charges for assault and battery on a family or household member, was grew violent and rand attacked federal law enforcement officials, biting, hitting and head-butting them.

“ICE is prepared to arrest Cuellar when he’s released from prison,” said ICE Boston acting Field Office Director Dave Wesling. “He overstayed a nonimmigrant visa by more than four years, and he’s been sentenced to a crime that falls under the Laken Riley Act. When we initially arrested him, he attacked our officers and a DEA agent — and under this administration, there is zero tolerance for those who violently assault the brave men and women of ICE Boston who are on the ground fighting to keep our communities safe.”

On May 4, 2025, ICE officials and federal partners approached Cuellar’s vehicle and him to step out of the car in both English and in Spanish. He refused to get out of the car, unlock the vehicle or keep his hands visible.

Because he aggressively refused to comply with lawful commands and because officers couldn’t see what he was doing with his hands – causing them to fear for their safety and for that of others, they removed Cuellar from the vehicle. He violently resisted arrest, biting one officer and attempting to bite another. He also struck one officer in the head multiple times. He continued to resist even while handcuffed, fighting the officers’ attempts to put him in the rear seat of their vehicle. At that point, Cuellar head-butted an officer and spat into an officer's eyes.

Cuellar pleaded guilty Oct. 30, 2025, to forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties.

The charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties provides for a sentence of up to eight years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by federal district court judges based upon the U.S. sentencing guidelines and applicable statutes.

Learn more about this case here.

Updated: 01/27/2026
April 4, 2026Bunker Hill, IN, United StatesDetainee Death Notifications

Criminal illegal alien from Vietnam passes away at Miami Correctional Center

BUNKER HILL, Ind. — Tuan Van Bui, 55, a criminal illegal alien from Vietnam with multiple convictions and over a dozen arrests, passed away April 1 at the Miami Correctional Center in Bunker Hill. Onsite staff discovered Bui unresponsive and immediately initiated life saving measures, including CPR. Staff immediately contacted emergency services personnel, who swiftly responded to the scene and initiated advanced life support interventions. Bui was pronounced deceased at 6:10 p.m. the detention facility. His cause of death is under investigation.

Philadelphia Police arrested Bui over a dozen times on charges including robbery, theft, assault, criminal conspiracy, reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute/manufacture, carrying firearms, resisting arrest and DUI.

Bui entered the United States in 1990 as an AM-1 immigrant, a visa category for Amerasian children established under the Amerasian Homecoming Act. Despite living in the United States for many years, he did not receive or apply for U.S. citizenship at any point during his time here. He was ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge in 2005.

Consistent with ICE policy, ERO notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. Bui’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov’s Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov’s Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained alien denied emergency care.

Updated: 04/04/2026
June 29, 2025Miami, FL, United StatesDetainee Death Notifications

Cuban national dies in ICE custody

MIAMI — Isidro Perez, a 75-year-old citizen of Cuba in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was pronounced deceased by the HCA Kendall Florida Hospital June 26 at 8:42 p.m. The cause of death is still under investigation.

Perez was being detained at the Krome Service Processing Center Medical Housing Unit and notified ICE Health Services Corps personnel he was having chest pains at approximately 7 p.m. Miami Dade Rescue arrived at KSPC and initiated life-sustaining interventions to include Automated External Defibrillator shock and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and he responded to revival methods. He was transported to Kendall Florida Hospital for further evaluation and treatment, but was pronounced deceased at 8:42 p.m. by medical staff.

ICE arrested Perez June 5, 2025, during a law enforcement action in Key Largo, when he was charged with inadmissibility pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

He was transferred to KSPC June 6, and upon intake was diagnosed with several medical issues. He was admitted to the Larkin Community Hospital June 17 due to an unstable angina/esquimes changes on the EKG; he was discharged from LCH June 25.

Perez was paroled into the United States in Houston April 1, 1966. On Feb. 10, 1981 and Jan. 25, 1984 he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in the United States Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Consistent with ICE policy, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. ERO provided telephone notification of the death to the Consulate of Cuba.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon an official report of a detained illegal alien’s death and posts a news release with relevant details on the ICE public website within two business days per agency policy. This information may be accessed in the ICE.gov Newsroom. Additionally, congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Bill of 2018 require ICE to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days.

These reports may be accessed on the Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE remains committed to ensuring that all those in its custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout the entirety of their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care.

Updated: 06/29/2025
April 2, 2025El Paso, TX, United StatesHuman Smuggling/Trafficking

Cuban national sentenced to nearly a decade in federal prison for human smuggling

EL PASO, Texas – A Cuban national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 111 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, conspiracy to harbor aliens, and sexual assault of an alien, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The U.S. Border Patrol assisted with the case.

“Justice was served today for a stash house operator who organized the smuggling of hundreds of illegal aliens and sexually assaulted one of them, all while cramming individuals into tractor-trailers in the sweltering Texas heat,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens. “HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizations that continuously exploit individuals for profit. We will relentlessly pursue these criminals who prey on vulnerable people, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.”

According to court documents, Humberto Yosvany Arriola-Rivero, 30, assisted in the harboring of illegal aliens and managed a stash house in El Paso. He also was an occupant in a vehicle that fled law enforcement that was transporting more than a dozen illegal aliens in April 2023. An investigation revealed that Arriola-Rivero sexually assaulted one of the illegal aliens at the El Paso stash house. Arriola-Rivero was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2023, and was arrested Sept. 7, 2023. He pleaded guilty Aug. 27, 2024.

“It’s important to note that Arriola-Rivero is being held responsible not only for the significant role he played in human smuggling operations, but also for his abhorrent decision to further dehumanize and sexually violate one of his victims,” said acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “This sentence makes it clear to smugglers in El Paso and across the southern border, that if you engage in alien smuggling in our district, you will be held accountable.”

Updated: 04/02/2025
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February 16, 2026Savannah, GA, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

Deadly evasion: Illegal immigrant flees ICE, crashes car and kills innocent driver

The illegal alien is charged with homicide; this dangerous evasion comes after sanctuary politicians held webinars and provided resources and tips on how to openly defy ICE

Oscar Vasquez Lopez

SAVANNAH, Ga. — After months of sanctuary politicians encouraging and instructing illegal aliens to resist and evade federal law enforcement, a criminal illegal alien attempting to flee from ICE law enforcement struck and killed a motorist in Savannah.

On Feb. 16, ICE law enforcement officers attempted to apprehend Oscar Vasquez Lopez, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala who was issued a final order of removal by a federal judge in 2024. He entered the U.S. illegally on an unknown date and at an unknown location.

During the operation, officers observed Vasquez Lopez enter a vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Vasquez Lopez initially complied but then fled the scene, making a reckless U-turn and running a red light, colliding into a civilian vehicle. The civilian driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Vasquez Lopez is in custody at the hospital with minor injuries and is being charged by the Chatham County Police Department with vehicular homicide.

“This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest — a felony,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “These dangerous tactics are putting people’s lives at risk. Fleeing from and resisting federal law enforcement is not only a crime but extraordinarily dangerous and puts oneself, our officers and innocent civilians at risk. Now, an innocent bystander has lost their life."

This dangerous attempt to evade arrest comes after sanctuary politicians held webinars and provided resources and tips for how to openly defy ICE:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a webinar in February providing tips for illegal aliens to evade arrests at homes, workplaces or in public.
Dan Goldman posted a video online calling on illegal aliens to make a plan for ICE encounters.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued multilingual flyers and online resources advising illegal aliens on how to evade arrest.
California Governor Gavin Newsom released guides and sanctuary laws advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry and defy arrest.

We are once again calling on sanctuary politicians, agitators, and the media to turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement.

ICE remains committed to protecting public safety by removing dangerous illegal aliens from the country. For more information on ICE’s enforcement actions, follow us on X at @ICEgov.

To report crimes or suspicious activity, call 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit a tip online.

Updated: 02/24/2026