The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday released a list of 11 illegal immigrants the agency said were detained as result of the Memphis Safe Task Force deployment, which a new data dashboard created under Mayor Paul Young shows has seen more than 1,200 arrests, and coincided with a 45 percent decline in reports of serious crimes.
According to DHS, illegal immigrants arrested in Memphis include, “gang members, pedophiles, rapists, domestic abusers, and drug traffickers,” and those names released on Monday are only “the worst of the worst” offenders detained during the task force’s deployment.
At least four of those arrested involved sexual or domestic allegations, as Luis Alfredo Maldonado-Lopez was arrested for allegedly fondling a child, Michael Hugo Garcia Rodriguez was arrested for sexual assault, and Henry Rafael Oseguera-Gonzales, Luis Alberto Cordova Bandala, and Jardi Caal Requena were arrested on charges which include domestic violence or disputes.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary of DHS, said in a statement that the agency’s purpose in Memphis was to make the city safer for citizens.
“Memphis has suffered from historic levels of violent crime including a murder rate that is four times higher than Mexico City,” said McLaughlin. “No American should be afraid to walk down the streets in their own neighborhoods.”
The assistant secretary stated, “In Memphis, DHS law enforcement is working hand in glove with Attorney General [Pam] Bondi to enhance public safety, fight crime, and provide much-needed support to our law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal level. The Trump administration WILL make America safe again.”
DHS released the information on the same day Young told Action News 5 that his administration’s new data portal showed daily updates on crime since the “surge” in federal law enforcement to Memphis, which the outlet acknowledged coincided with a “decline” in reports of serious crimes.
“The more we’re looking at these numbers, the more we are able to direct the federal task force towards the direction of helping us execute the warrants and go after the individuals that really are responsible for driving violent crime in our community,” Young told the outlet.
The portal shows a total of 1,264 arrests since the task force was deployed, including 542 felony arrests and 722 misdemeanor arrests. It also reports that 180 arrests were for outstanding warrants involving alleged violent crimes.
It also reveals that there were 44.9 percent fewer reports of serious crimes, down from 2,786 in October 2024 to 1,534 this year, following the deployment of the federal task force in Memphis. All calls to police were additionally down 17.5 percent over 2024, with the dashboard reflecting a 46.6 percent decrease in the number of high-priority calls requiring a police response.
Young, a Democrat who has said Memphians should view the task force as an opportunity to build on the city’s public safety efforts, recently said the task force was successfully arresting criminals who “are the significant drivers of violent crime in our city.”
Governor Bill Lee said during the same press conference that the task force would remain deployed “forever,” though later specified that the number of federal law enforcement officers may be reduced over time, but the level of cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement would remain indefinitely.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
