A recent undercover police operation in Indiana meant to take down suspected predators ended with 11 arrests, and now the Department of Homeland Security is confirming that four of those men are in the U.S. illegally.
The operation
Police ran an undercover sting where suspects thought they were chatting with underage girls online and were lured to meet-up spots. Instead of their planned encounters, they were met by detectives.
Who was arrested
ICE has already filed detainer requests for the four suspects linked to immigration violations:
- El Hadji Babacar Ndiaye (Senegal): DHS says he was caught and released at the southern border in September 2023. He faces charges of child solicitation.
- Lucky Philip Udoudo (Nigeria): Identified as a "got-away" who entered the U.S. at an unknown time. He is charged with child solicitation and sexual misconduct with a minor.
- Filomeno Ricardo Flores Marin (Mexico): Entered illegally in 2002. He faces two counts of sex offenses, plus counts of molestation and enticement of a minor for indecent purposes.
- David Josue Gomez-Posada (El Salvador): Entered as a juvenile in 2017. He is charged with child solicitation.
Why it matters
DHS is currently pushing Indiana to honor their requests to hold these men in custody. The agency also noted that it is prioritizing partnerships with local law enforcement to target "criminal illegal aliens," pointing to similar efforts in states like Florida and West Virginia. It’s giving a major shift in how the feds are working with local agencies to lock down these cases. The real tea here is that these four individuals will now face both their state criminal charges and future immigration proceedings before a judge. Say less, the legal process is definitely going to be a long one.
