Manuel Victores-Alzola, a Cuban national residing in Miami, was taken into custody this Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being convicted three times for engaging in sexual activities with a minor within his own family, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in their official statement on Friday.
The case of Victores-Alzola is highlighted in the "Worst of the Worst" campaign, a communication initiative spearheaded by DHS during Trump's administration to spotlight the arrests of undocumented immigrants with severe criminal backgrounds.
ICE's Ongoing Efforts to Safeguard Communities
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, made a firm statement regarding those apprehended in this round of operations: "Yesterday, ICE apprehended pedophiles, rapists, kidnappers, thieves, and other dangerous criminals who should never have been here."
In the same statement, Mullin emphasized, "Thanks to President Trump's leadership, the men and women of ICE have been empowered to act against illegal aliens threatening our communities. While sanctuary city politicians prioritize the needs of illegals, DHS will always put the safety of the American people first."
Additional Arrests and the Impact of ICE Operations
Alongside the Cuban national, the DHS statement included four other arrests: Jeffry Rivera-Vargas, a Honduran convicted of kidnapping and sexual assault in Ohio; Bladimir Morel, a Dominican found guilty of robbery, illegal firearm use, and narcotics distribution in Pennsylvania; Ronald Alberto Aguilar-Contreras, a Salvadoran convicted of first-degree assault in Maryland; and Diego Miguel-Juan, a Guatemalan charged with distributing child abuse material in Iowa.
The DHS maintains the site WOW.DHS.Gov, allowing the public to track the arrests of immigrants with criminal records in their communities, a tool used by the Trump administration as part of their immigration communication strategy.
Patterns of Cuban Arrests in Florida
The detention of Victores-Alzola is not an isolated incident. There is a documented pattern of Cubans with offenses against minors being detained by ICE in Florida.
In May, ICE apprehended three Cubans with severe criminal histories. Roberto Valdés Catalán, an undocumented immigrant from Cuba, was identified as one of "the worst criminals arrested by ICE." He had been convicted of the felony of enticing minors for indecent purposes in Davidson County, Tennessee, and domestic violence in Austin, Texas.
Another Cuban, Juan González Paz, was detained for convictions of grand theft and possession of burglary tools in Miami, Florida, according to DHS. Similarly, Jorge Luis Fuentes was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon in Boston, Massachusetts.
In March, ICE agents in Newark apprehended the undocumented Cuban national Álvaro Tuero, convicted of sexual abuse of minors, shortly after his release from a New Jersey state prison earlier that month.
The intensification of ICE's detentions of Cubans is substantial: arrests increased by 463% between October 2024 and January 2026.
Over 42,000 Cubans have pending final deportation orders in the United States, and in June 2026 alone, immigration courts issued more than 1,600 new deportation orders against Cuban nationals.
Between August 2025 and August 2026, Cubans represented the nationality with the highest number of ICE arrests in Miami, under cooperation agreements with local authorities: 131 out of 451 detainees, based on Miami-Dade migrant arrest data.
This case is part of a series of ICE operations across the nation. Follow the details of these and other immigration arrests in our U.S. Immigration section.
Key Insights into ICE's Operations and Cuban Arrests
What is the "Worst of the Worst" campaign?
The "Worst of the Worst" campaign is an initiative by the Department of Homeland Security to highlight arrests of undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records as part of their communication strategy under the Trump administration.
Why are ICE's operations focused on Cuban nationals in Florida?
ICE's operations have intensified in Florida due to a documented pattern of Cubans with offenses against minors, resulting in increased arrests to protect communities from individuals with serious criminal backgrounds.
How has the number of Cuban deportations changed recently?
The number of Cuban deportations has significantly increased, with over 42,000 Cubans having pending deportation orders and immigration courts issuing more than 1,600 new orders in June 2026 alone.