U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations’ (ERO) officers in West Palm Beach, Florida, on February 14, 2025 | File photo via Wikimedia Commons
NEW YORK — A 20‑year‑old Filipino national was among five undocumented individuals arrested in a recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation targeting people previously convicted of serious violent crimes, according to a report from GMA News.
ICE said the Filipino had been convicted on two counts of attempted murder and battery with the use of a deadly weapon in Las Vegas, Nevada. The case stemmed from a February 2025 incident in which the Filipino stabbed two roommates during an argument over orange juice.
According to court records cited in the report, a 40‑year‑old victim sustained stab wounds to the head, face, and shoulder, while a 70‑year‑old man who tried to intervene suffered injuries to the ear, eye, and head.
Re‑Arrest Following Court Ruling
Las Vegas police initially arrested the Filipino and later released him on bail under high‑level electronic monitoring. After the Nevada court issued its ruling, ICE agents took him back into custody, and he is now undergoing deportation proceedings, the report said.
Part of a Multi‑State Enforcement Sweep
The Filipino was one of five undocumented individuals arrested in the operation, which also included convicted offenders from Mexico, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. ICE said those apprehended had prior convictions for crimes such as murder, sexual offenses involving minors, and attempted murder.
In a statement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said ICE officers “risk their lives every day to remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists from our communities.” She added that the latest sweep included “multiple murderers, pedophiles, and one individual convicted of two counts of attempted murder.”
Filipino Arrests Increasing in Recent Operations
According to reports, since the broader enforcement campaign began, 58 Filipinos have been arrested nationwide, including individuals DHS has described as among the “worst of the worst” undocumented offenders in the United States.
