U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on April 20 that it arrested Starlin Jose Batista, a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic convicted for armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery on a correctional institution guard as part of weekend operations targeting criminal illegal aliens.
The announcement is part of broader efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to address public safety threats posed by repeat criminal offenders illegally present in the United States. The agency said these operations are intended to prioritize removal of individuals with serious criminal histories.
The Department of Homeland Security announcement outlined weekend arrests carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of criminal illegal aliens convicted of serious offenses across the country. One case involved Starlin Jose Batista from the Dominican Republic who was taken into custody in Massachusetts after release from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Batista maintains a final removal order issued in 2024. The operation reflects ongoing efforts to address public safety threats posed by repeat criminal offenders illegally present in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In Massachusetts ICE and federal partners arrested more than 1400 illegal aliens during the Patriot 2.0 operation. More than 600 of those individuals had significant criminal convictions or charges. The initiative involved close coordination with local law enforcement agencies across the state to identify and remove public safety threats. Operations like Patriot 2.0 have strengthened enforcement against criminal illegal aliens in communities throughout Massachusetts, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement maintains that approximately 70 percent of its arrests involve criminal illegal aliens with charges or convictions in the United States. The agency has expanded manpower by 120 percent in 2026 to intensify focus on the worst offenders. These measures support broader priorities to secure communities by prioritizing removal of individuals with serious criminal histories. National enforcement data continues to show progress in targeting repeat criminal offenders who entered or remained illegally, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement promotes homeland security and public safety through criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration. The agency was established in 2003 as part of the Department of Homeland Security to combine authorities addressing national security and interior enforcement needs. ICE officers and agents carry out investigations and operations to mitigate transnational threats while safeguarding lawful immigration and trade systems. The mission centers on protecting America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
