U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement joined more than five federal, state and local agencies in a weeklong immigration-enforcement operation across Southwest Florida, resulting in 500 arrests.
According to ICE, those arrested included a Haitian national charged with murder; a Honduran national accused of molesting children; a suspected Mexican cartel member; a Guatemalan man accused of trying to use a Taser against an officer; and others facing allegations or convictions involving battery, DUI, hit-and-run incidents, domestic violence, illegal drug possession, driving without a license, resisting arrest and repeated unlawful reentry into the United States after deportation.
From Aug. 24 through Aug. 27, ICE agents worked alongside personnel from agencies including the Florida Highway Patrol, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida National Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
An ICE-led operation in Florida resulted in 500 arrests of undocumented immigrants. (Getty Images; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Suspected murderer captured
During the operation, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Haitian national seeking asylum in the United States on a murder charge.
Whycliff Longin, 28, is accused of breaking into a home in Lehigh Acres, Florida, on Aug. 27.
Shortly before 3 a.m., deputies responded to a 911 call from a woman who had “escaped an attack in which she was strangled and fought to survive before barricading herself in a bedroom,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies said they found Longin fleeing from a nearby residence and arrested him.
They then discovered a second woman “deceased inside a bedroom, suffering from obvious signs of blunt force trauma,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Whycliff Longin, 28, was seeking asylum in the United States when he was arrested on murder, sexual assault and burglary charges in Lehigh Acres, Florida, on Aug. 27, 2026. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
The medical examiner determined that the woman’s death was a homicide.
Longin faces charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder, sexual battery and burglary with battery. He is being held without bond at the Lee County Jail and has an ICE detainer.
“My prayers are with the family of the woman who tragically lost her life, and with the survivor who showed incredible strength in fighting to live,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said during a news conference.
Captured: Suspected Mexican cartel member, alleged Honduran child molester
At another point in the operation, ICE agents and Florida Highway Patrol troopers jointly arrested a suspected Mexican cartel member and a Honduran national accused of molesting two children, ICE said.
In a separate incident, officers arrested Noe Lux Castro, 24, following a struggle. ICE described him as “a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala who illegally entered the United States.”
ICE said Castro took a trooper’s Taser during the confrontation and attempted to use it against the officer. The agency said Castro entered the United States without inspection at an unknown time and location.
He was charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and resisting an officer without violence.
Noe Lux Castro, a 28-year-old undocumented immigrant, allegedly tried to use a Taser against an officer during his arrest in the Fort Myers area of Florida in August 2026. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
The Southwest Florida operation also resulted in the arrest of Olmen Noel Vargas-Mendoza, 40, whom ICE identified as “a criminal illegal alien from Honduras.” The agency said he had “illegally reentered the United States without inspection three times” and had a criminal history involving domestic violence.
Officers also arrested Marlon Rolando Calderon-Castellon, 43, whom ICE described as “a criminal illegal alien from Honduras.” According to the agency, he had illegally reentered the United States without inspection and had a criminal record that included battery and illegal drug possession.
Carlos Humberto Monzon-Cabrera, 53, is “a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala,” who was arrested during the operation, according to ICE. He “has a criminal history that includes battery and multiple convictions for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. He illegally entered the United States at an unknown time and location without inspection.”
Hermenegildo Andres-Juan, 52, is a “criminal illegal alien from Guatemala,” who was brought in during the surge, according to ICE. He “illegally reentered the United States after a previous deportation and has a criminal history that includes driving under the influence, resisting arrest, hit-and-run and public order crimes.
“He illegally entered the United States on Jan. 10, 2025.”
“We will not sit idly by and allow Floridians to be victimized.”
Also arrested was Armando Coc-Yat, 39, a “criminal illegal alien from Guatemala,” who entered the United States illegally without inspection on Dec. 4, 2018, according to ICE. He “has a criminal history that includes arrests for driving under the influence and hit-and-run.
“An immigration judge issued him a final order of removal on Nov. 16, 2021.”
Rigoberto Vargas-Resendiz, a 52-year-old “criminal illegal alien from Mexico,” also was among those arrested, ICE said. He “illegally reentered the United States without inspection three times,” including on Dec. 9, 2018. An immigration judge issued him a final order of removal on May 26, 2011.
Also arrested was Daren Ruiz-Mejia, 37, a “criminal illegal alien from Venezuela,” according to ICE. He “illegally reentered the United States without inspection” on April 5, 2016 and “has a criminal history that includes driving under the influence of liquor.”
Melchor Perez-Garcia, 31, “is a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala” who was arrested in the operation, according to ICE. He “illegally reentered the United States without inspection and has a criminal history that includes driving under the influence, resisting an officer and obstruction without violence.”
Officers also caught Samuel Mateo-Francisco, 33, “a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala” who “illegally reentered the United States without inspection on three separate occasions,” including on Oct. 31, 2023, according to ICE.
The ICE-led operation in Florida netted 500 arrests. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“The continued success of these weeklong operations is a testament to the power of unity and our shared commitment to community safety,” said Matthew Elliston, of Enforcement and Removals Operations (ERO) for ICE.
“Working hand-in-hand with our state and local partners, we have successfully removed more than 500 illegal aliens from our streets, ensuring a safer environment for all,” said Elliston, the ERO Miami interim field office director.
“Those who choose to knowingly flaunt this nation’s immigration laws will face the consequences, and they will be provided a one-way ticket home.”
Florida has more deputizations to assist in federal immigration enforcement than any other state, according to ICE. All 67 county sheriffs and their agencies partner with ICE, along with multiple state law enforcement agencies.
“Florida continues to demonstrate how to turn important policy into meaningful action,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said after the operation results were announced.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said “we will not sit idly by and allow Floridians to be victimized” by illegal immigrants. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
Florida is the “most proactive and effective state in identifying, apprehending and deporting illegal immigrants who have intentionally avoided lawful immigration processes and committed horrific crimes within the United States,” DeSantis said.
“We will not sit idly by and allow Floridians to be victimized. Rather, we are executing on a whole-of-government approach that engages federal, state, and local law enforcement to get the job done and keep Florida safe and free.”
