U.S. Adds 5,000 More Immigrants to "Worst of the Worst" List, Including a Cuban National

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has updated its public database at WOW.DHS.gov, nicknamed "Worst of the Worst," by adding 5,000 new profiles. This brings the total number of undocumented immigrants with criminal histories in the database to over 40,000. Among these new entries is a Cuban national with a significant criminal record.

Ricardo Iglesias Martínez, identified by DHS as an alleged member of the Sureños gang, was detained in Los Angeles, California. His criminal history includes lewd acts with a minor, child sexual exploitation, sexual abuse of minors, drug possession, carrying a concealed weapon, and vehicular manslaughter, according to the agency's information.

In announcing the update, DHS Undersecretary Lauren Bis stated that the new profiles cover "murderers, pedophiles, rapists, arsonists, drug traffickers, kidnappers, violent offenders, and gang members."

"The Trump Administration remains firmly committed to transparency, fulfilling the American people's mandate to arrest and deport illegal immigrants from our country," she declared.

Controversy Surrounding the Database

The WOW.DHS.gov portal was launched on December 8, 2025, aiming to provide the public with access to information about undocumented immigrants arrested across the 50 states for crimes ranging from murder and kidnapping to fraud, sexual assaults, and terrorist threats.

However, the platform has not been without controversy. In February 2026, DHS itself acknowledged errors in some records and made corrections following media scrutiny.

International Profiles Included

Besides the Cuban national, the database update includes immigrant profiles from more than a dozen countries. Notable cases involve Lionel Boursiquot, a Haitian citizen arrested in Doral, Florida, facing multiple charges of manslaughter and kidnapping; Michael Nyak Biel from South Sudan, detained in Phoenix for sexual abuse of a minor and kidnapping; and José Murillo, a Salvadoran also identified as a Sureños member, convicted of murder in California.

The inclusion of Iglesias Martínez is not an isolated case. Since early 2026, DHS has added several Cuban nationals to the WOW site, including a man accused of homicide in Dallas and others linked to sexual crimes against minors.

Political Backing for an Expanded List

The expansion of the database has received support from Republican lawmakers, who view it as part of the Trump administration's strategy to bolster border security and expedite the deportation of immigrants with criminal backgrounds.

Representative Ben Cline, Vice Chair of the Republican Study Committee, emphasized that despite strengthened borders, "dangerous illegal immigrants are still allowed to terrorize our communities, thanks to the Biden administration and extreme left sanctuary policies."

Congressman Josh Brecheen, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, asserted that "under no circumstances should these criminals be allowed to remain in the United States."

Representative Beth Van Duyne also noted that over three million undocumented immigrants have been deported or self-deported during the Trump administration, attributing a decrease in crime rates and fentanyl-related deaths to these policies.

Republicans further highlighted the passage of the U.S. Security Act, which allocated an additional $70 billion to ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including $108.5 million for investigations related to child exploitation.

DHS clarified that the more than 40,000 profiles available on WOW represent just a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of immigrants with criminal records that, according to the agency, have been apprehended across the United States.