Homeland Security agents arrest 14 in South Florida in operation under Laken Riley Act

The Department of Homeland Security arrested 14 undocumented immigrants in South Florida over a three-day span as part of an operation that stems from the Laken Riley Act — a law requiring the detention of non-U.S. nationals accused of theft and violent crimes, officials say.

In a Friday post on X, Homeland Security Investigations Miami indicated that among the people detained were those accused of sexually assaulting a minor and suspected members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang. It’s not yet clear when the arrests began.

In January, President Donald Trump signed the bill, which was notably the first that he signed in his second tenure. The act is seen as another effort for the federal government to detain non-U.S. nationals.

It was named for Laken Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University College of Nursing when she was killed in February 2024 by Jose Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant.

Michael Butler

Miami Herald

Michael Butler writes about minority business and trends that affect marginalized professionals in South Florida. As a business reporter for the Miami Herald, he tells inclusive stories that reflect South Florida’s diversity. Just like Miami’s diverse population, Butler, a Temple University graduate, has both local roots and a Panamanian heritage.