Caribbean nationals are among more than 17,500 undocumented migrants arrested and detained in the United States under the recently enacted Laken Riley Act, according to figures released last week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The arrests, announced on December 24, form part of stepped-up immigration enforcement, with DHS saying those detained are accused or convicted of crimes covered under the new law, including theft, burglary, assault on law enforcement officers, and offenses resulting in serious injury or death.
Among those cited by DHS during a recent enforcement initiative known as Operation Angel’s Honor were nationals of Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, alongside migrants from Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
DHS identified a Jamaican national, Nathaniel Antoney Sterling, as one of the individuals arrested during the operation, citing a prior conviction for sexual assault and additional charges including domestic abuse and weapons possession. Dominican and Cuban nationals were also listed among those detained for a range of violent and non-violent offenses.
The Laken Riley Act, the first piece of legislation signed by President Trump after returning to office, mandates the federal detention of undocumented migrants accused of specific crimes, removing discretion for release while cases are pending. The law is named after a Georgia nursing student killed in 2024, a case that has since been central to U.S. immigration policy debates.
Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the conclusion of Operation Angel’s Honor, a 14-day nationwide enforcement sweep led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), during which 1,030 arrests were made.
While DHS did not provide a full nationality breakdown of the 17,500 arrests, the inclusion of Caribbean nationals is likely to draw attention across the region, where migration to the United States — both documented and undocumented — remains a sensitive economic and political issue.
DHS said enforcement under the Laken Riley Act will continue nationwide, with officials emphasizing detention and removal for migrants deemed to pose public safety risks.
