Federal agents arrested 11 illegal migrants during a high-stakes raid at a Home Depot parking lot in California on Thursday, including a Mexican national with a staggering 67 prior jail bookings.
The man, identified as Javier Dimas-Alcantara, has a long and violent criminal history dating back decades. A previously deported aggravated felon, Dimas-Alcantara’s record includes convictions for transporting and selling narcotics, felony burglary, possession of drugs with intent to sell, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and multiple instances of felony-level marijuana possession. He has also been arrested for illegal entry, reoffending while on probation, using false identification, and drug-related offenses including being under the influence of controlled substances.
Tensions escalated during the operation when one suspect slashed the tire of a law enforcement vehicle and fled on foot. Agents chased the man, who claimed to be a U.S. citizen, and ultimately subdued him with mace before taking him into custody. His wife shouted at agents during the altercation, insisting on his citizenship. With the tire destroyed, officers were forced to drive the vehicle away on its rims.
Gregory Bovino, U.S. Border Patrol chief for the El Centro Sector, emphasized the agency’s commitment to removing criminal migrants. “There is no sanctuary city, Sacramento is not a sanctuary city, the state of California is not a sanctuary state, there is no sanctuary anywhere,” Bovino said. “We’re here to stay, we’re not going anywhere. We’re going to effect this mission and secure the homeland.”
The Department of Homeland Security echoed the sentiment. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin harshly criticized defenders of sanctuary policies, pointing directly at California leadership. “Dimas has been convicted of a myriad of offenses — you would not want this man to be your neighbor,” she said. “Yet politicians like Gavin Newsom defend criminals who terrorize American communities and demonize law enforcement who defend those same communities.”
McLaughlin credited the Trump administration’s crackdown on criminal illegal aliens as a mandate from the American people. “He and every other sanctuary politician should be thanking CBP for getting this scum out of American communities instead of obstructing federal law enforcement at every possible turn,” she added.
Among the other 10 individuals arrested were a previously deported Guatemalan aggravated felon and a Mexican migrant with a prior arrest for driving without a license. Another detainee, a Guatemalan national, had a voluntary return removal in 2009 and had been previously arrested for trespassing and failure to provide identification.
Names of the remaining suspects have not yet been released.
