The operation was confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which said the arrests were part of an enforcement effort targeting individuals accused of improperly accessing government assistance.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said those arrested and deported so far represented only a small fraction of the individuals the administration intended to pursue.
“Illegal aliens who have no right to be here in the first place are the last people who should be using SNAP benefits and other forms of welfare,” Mullin said in a statement.
“These programs are for Americans only,” he added, warning that even non-violent offences could have serious consequences when individuals allegedly defraud American taxpayers.
DHS identified several people arrested during the operation, including Haitian nationals Rubstony Junior Theodore, Wilbert Jean Baptiste, Louis Jean and Jhensly Charles.
According to the agency, Theodore had previously been arrested for larceny, obstruction of officers and trespassing.
Another suspect, Elizabeth Povea Rodriguez, a Cuban national, was also arrested. DHS said she had previously been convicted of disorderly conduct and arrested over allegations involving battery and domestic violence.
The agency did not provide further details in the statement about the specific evidence supporting the SNAP fraud allegations against each individual.
“These arrests mark the opening salvo in a sustained, large-scale ICE operation specifically targeting illegal aliens who have fraudulently accessed SNAP benefits that American taxpayers fund exclusively for U.S. citizens in need,” DHS said.
The agency further alleged that the individuals entered the country unlawfully before accessing a programme intended to support struggling American families.
The arrests come amid the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement efforts, with federal authorities pledging to pursue undocumented immigrants accused of violating US laws.
Post a Comment