Donald Trump Gets Warning About Migrants in His Backyard

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A Palm Beach County law enforcement official is warning about illegal immigration coming to the area known for Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.

County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw made the comments after three undocumented migrants from Guatemala were arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a local woman on Monday. The three suspects—Marcos Felipe Ramirez, Darniel Ordónez Jimenez and Andres Felipe Morales—were apprehended for charges including sexual battery, false imprisonment, conspiracy to commit sexual battery, and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment.

The kidnapping and assault reportedly occurred near Lake Worth Beach, just west of Interstate 95. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said that "the brave victim escaped and got help, leading to their capture" after she was assaulted at two separate locations.

"Don't think for a minute that what happens at the Mexican border doesn't affect us here," Bradshaw said on Wednesday. "Here you have three illegals that should've never been in this country that committed a very serious crime. Kidnapping and sexual battery of a lady. They shouldn't be here."

Newsweek reached out to the sheriff's office via email for additional comment.

Florida officials and politicians, including Governor Ron DeSantis and Representative Matt Gaetz, have warned about mass migration to the state due to gang violence in Haiti.

On Wednesday, DeSantis directed emergency personnel, the Florida State Guard and state law enforcement agencies to deploy over 250 additional officers and soldiers, as well as more than a dozen air and sea craft, to Florida's southern coast for protective measures.

Gaetz received a verbal confirmation from a U.S. military official on Tuesday to prepare the U.S. Navy and other agencies in case of a mass migration event in which Haitians could seek refuge in Florida.

Bradshaw said today that the three suspects in the sexual assault case "in all likelihood" came to the U.S. through Mexico, adding that illegal immigration is the worst he's experienced in 52 years as a law enforcement official.

Along with individuals coming from Guatemala and Haiti, he said that the FBI has told his office that some of the world's most dangerous gangs coming from places like Venezuela are in cities like Miami.

Migrants Palm Beach
Activists gather in West Palm Beach, Florida, to ask Sen. Bill Nelson to help DACA recipients and immigrants on February 2, 2018. County officials have warned about an incoming influx of undocumented immigrants. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Also on Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray told members of Congress that a "big concern" is the number of migrants who enter the U.S. illegally with fake IDs and cannot properly be assessed by the myriad domestic intel agencies that deal with border security and immigration issues.

"For them to be in this country, to be able to commit these types of crimes is unconscionable...They're not gonna stay just in Miami. They're gonna go where they need to go to do what they do," Bradshaw said.

He added, "They don't know if it's Dade, Broward, Palm Beach County. They just go to do what they're gonna do. And we're gonna have to deal with them."

The suspects appeared before a judge on Tuesday, with each bond set at $200,000, according to reports. Their next court date is scheduled for April 10.

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About the writer

Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek investigative reporter based in Michigan. His focus includes U.S. and international politics and policies, immigration, crime and social issues. Other reporting has covered education, economics, and wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Nick joined Newsweek in 2021 from The Oakland Press, and his reporting has been featured in The Detroit News and other publications. His reporting on the opioid epidemic garnered a statewide Michigan Press Association award. The Michigan State University graduate can be reached at n.mordowanec@newsweek.com.


Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek investigative reporter based in Michigan. His focus includes U.S. and international politics and policies, immigration, ... Read more