SALT LAKE CITY, CMC – United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says officers from its Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) apprehended a Cuban among eight unlawfully present noncitizen sex offenders, as part of a nationwide law enforcement effort.

On Wednesday, ICE said the operation, which was conducted from February 5 to February 16, “netted 275 noncitizens.”

The immigration enforcement agency said the Cuban national, 32, was apprehended in Clark County, Nevada

The Cuban was convicted of kidnapping, battery with intent to commit sexual assault, sexual assault and coercion, ICE said.

“Those who prey on children are the worst of the worst, and ERO prioritises these foreign nationals for removal from our community,” said ERO Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke. “We will use our immigration authority to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable population.”

The announcement follows a nationwide enforcement effort in January in which 275 individuals, “presenting a threat to public safety,” were arrested.

On Monday, ICE said ERO New Orleans officers apprehended two Cuban nationals among six unlawfully present noncitizen sex offenders during another nationwide law enforcement effort.

ICE said a 41-year-old citizen of Cuba in Springfield, Tennessee, who was convicted of felony sexual battery, as well as a 62-year-old citizen of Cuba in New Orleans, who was convicted of sexual battery, domestic abuse/battery, violation of protective order, and failing to comply with the sex offender registry.

“Our ERO officers are dedicated to the safety of our communities through the arrest and removal of those who seek to undermine our laws and disrupt public safety,” said ERO New Orleans Field Office Director Mellissa Harper.

“The individuals identified in this operation were found guilty of committing sexual crimes, often against the most vulnerable members of our population, and therefore forfeited their right to remain in the United States. ERO New Orleans will continue to focus its efforts on locating and removing unlawfully present criminal noncitizens who threaten our neighbourhoods,” she vowed.

In fiscal year 2023, ICE said ERO officers arrested 73,822 noncitizens with criminal histories.

It said this group had 290,178 associated charges and convictions with an average of four per individual.

ICE said these included 33,209 assaults; 4,390 sex and sexual assaults; 7,520 weapons offences; 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide; and 1,655 kidnapping offences.