U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles announced the arrest of a 30-year-old convicted sexual predator from El Salvador as part of its “Worst of the Worst” enforcement initiative.
ICE – Los Angeles reported the November 17 arrest of Carlos Ernesto Ramirez-Cartagena, a Salvadoran national, following his release from California state custody. Ramirez-Cartagena was convicted of sexual battery and false imprisonment in Orange County and sentenced to two years in state prison. After serving his sentence, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers took him into custody for immigration violations under the “Worst of the Worst” program, which prioritizes the detention and removal of noncitizens convicted of violent or sexual offenses.
According to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), more than 2,700 arrests of noncitizens convicted of sexual crimes occurred in fiscal year 2024, with 900 involving sexual assault or battery offenses. The “Worst of the Worst” initiative focuses on violent sexual predators to safeguard communities and prevent reoffending upon release.
California Department of Justice data from 2023 show that over 6,800 registered sex offenders were under active supervision statewide, with 16% convicted of crimes involving physical coercion or restraint, including false imprisonment. Federal partnerships with ICE enhance post-release monitoring and immigration enforcement for these offenders.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), founded in 2003 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security. It enforces immigration laws, disrupts transnational criminal networks, and removes individuals who pose threats to national or community safety. The Los Angeles Field Office oversees enforcement across Southern California and collaborates with local agencies through operations such as “Operation Cross Check” and “Worst of the Worst.”
