Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Wednesday that more than 150 illegal immigrant sex offenders have been arrested in Florida as part of a nationwide law enforcement initiative targeting violent criminals who entered the U.S. unlawfully.
According to Fox News, Noem praised the results of Operation Criminal Return, a coordinated effort between the Department of Homeland Security and Florida law enforcement agencies. “We’re making America more safe and secure every day, and that’s a wonderful mission to have,” she said.
The operation focused on child sex offenders accused of crimes such as sexual assault, battery, and attempted homicide. Noem credited much of the success to a partnership with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, describing the collaboration as a model for future enforcement across the country.
“These 150 individuals will be gone off of our streets. Our kids will be safer, and this partnership with Governor DeSantis in Florida is a model that we want to replicate across the country,” Noem said. “These individuals should have never been in our country to begin with. The fact that they were sexual deviants and perverts, and now we’ve gotten them off of our streets… it’s remarkable, and we need to do more of it.”
Noem also highlighted other DHS-led operations underway in cities across the U.S., including Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, crime rates there have dropped significantly since the program began — with homicides down 16%, shootings down 35%, and robberies down 41%.
While applauding those results, Noem criticized Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker for attacking President Donald Trump’s immigration and border enforcement policies. “[His] personal attacks against President Trump puts his people in jeopardy each and every day,” she said.
Noem added that DHS plans to deploy additional resources to Chicago and other urban areas.
“We’re not going to just be in Chicago. We’re spreading out to other cities and continuing to do our work,” she said. “The significant difference that we have made in public safety in Chicago is something that we need more in many more cities. I’m so thankful for Border Patrol, thankful for ICE, that they get up every single day, and they go into these dangerous situations, and they protect people, [and] put their lives on the line.”
