U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles announced the arrest of a 59-year-old convicted kidnapper from Mexico as part of its “Worst of the Worst” enforcement initiative.
ICE officers in Los Angeles apprehended Martin Alonzo Calderon-Ortalejo, a Mexican national, on November 7, 2025. Calderon-Ortalejo had been previously convicted of kidnapping in Amarillo, Texas, and sentenced to over 15 years in prison. Upon completing his sentence, ICE officers detained him for immigration violations under the agency’s “Worst of the Worst” campaign. This initiative targets criminal noncitizens convicted of serious violent crimes with the goal of identifying and removing repeat or dangerous offenders from U.S. communities.
According to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), more than 4,200 arrests were made nationwide in fiscal year 2024 involving noncitizens convicted of violent crimes such as kidnapping, homicide, and sexual assault. Approximately 68% of those detained had previously served multi-year prison terms for felony-level offenses before being transferred to immigration custody.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported in 2023 that the median state prison sentence for kidnapping offenses in the U.S. was 12.5 years. This reflects the severity of the crime and its frequent connection to other violent acts such as assault or unlawful confinement. Coordination between ICE and state corrections agencies ensures that violent offenders are processed for removal upon release.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), established in 2003 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., operates under the Department of Homeland Security. Its mission includes enforcing immigration laws, preventing cross-border crime, and detaining and removing individuals who pose threats to public safety. The Los Angeles Field Office oversees enforcement operations across Southern California and plays a leading role in national programs like “Operation Cross Check” and “Worst of the Worst.”
