The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of an illegal immigrant for attempted second-degree murder with a deadly weapon and tampering with physical evidence.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Moises Israel Mendoza, a 19-year-old Hispanic male, was arrested on January 26, 2026. He faces charges of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon involving aggravated battery attempt and tampering with physical evidence. The incident reportedly occurred after an argument where the victim spilled beer on Mendoza’s phone, leading him to stab the victim. Mendoza has an immigration hold, with bond yet to be set for the warrant case. He remains in custody with bond pending for the main charge and $2,500 for tampering.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that a weeklong operation in April 2025 resulted in 1,120 arrests of criminal illegal aliens in Florida. This marked the largest such effort in a single state during one week. Sixty-three percent had prior criminal arrests or convictions, including 378 individuals with final removal orders issued by an immigration judge. This joint initiative with federal and state partners focused on public safety threats.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said that 70% of all ICE arrests involve illegal aliens convicted or charged with crimes in the United States, including serious offenses such as continuous sexual abuse of a child, second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and aggravated assault. These operations aim to remove violent criminal elements from communities nationwide while focusing on enhancing public safety through enforcement actions.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office was established in 1836 as the Dade County Sheriff’s Office to serve the newly formed county. It underwent several name changes over time, becoming the Dade County Public Safety Department in 1957, Metro-Dade Police Department in 1981, and Miami-Dade Police Department in 1997. In 2025, it transitioned back to its original name while continuing to provide law enforcement services including patrols, investigations, and corrections to over 2.7 million residents across 2,431 square miles.
