U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that its Special Response Team apprehended Roberto Garcia-De Leon in Minneapolis on January 28. Garcia-De Leon, a Mexican national, has been previously convicted of alien smuggling and is currently facing charges of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
According to ICE Director Todd M. Lyons, “During the time he was living here illegally, Garcia-De Leon was convicted of felony alien smuggling and accused of felony sexual assault. ICE picked him up Jan. 28 with a warrant for illegal reentry, and when they searched his residence, they found a firearm — which, as an illegal alien, he’s not allowed to possess.”
Garcia-De Leon’s record includes a conviction in 2013 for smuggling individuals into the United States, resulting in a prison sentence of one year and one day. He was also arrested on July 23, 2025, in Minnesota for alleged sexual assault; those charges are still pending.
The individual has entered the United States illegally at least four times and has been removed from the country on May 4, 2013; July 1, 2013; and June 20, 2014. At one point during his unauthorized entries into the U.S., Garcia-De Leon stated that he crossed the Rio Grande River by raft.
Currently held by the United States Marshals Service while awaiting legal proceedings on his most recent charges, Garcia-De Leon is also subject to an immigration detainer lodged by ICE.
Members of the public can report suspicious activity or crimes related to immigration enforcement by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or using ICE’s online tip form. Further information about ICE’s public safety mission is available on X at @ICEgov.
