ICE releases identities of 8 illegal immigrants detained in Cleveland operation

foxchattanooga.com · By WTVC · 2026-05-26T22:15:02.000Z

by WTVCTue, May 26, 2026 at 6:15 PMFile: Screengrabs via video from Eden Hill.CLEVELAND, Tenn. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released more details about the 8 illegal immigrants they detained during a targeted enforcement in Cleveland, Tennessee.Video of that federal agent action went viral, raising concerns for some residents in the area. We shared viewer video with you of what appeared to be men in law enforcement vests and undercover vehicles making arrests at a gas station.In a statement to our newsroom last week, ICE told us this was "targeted enforcement action" in the Green Drive area involving a suspect who was in the country illegally.As agents approached the area, ICE says several people attempted to flee.Agents arrested 8 people who were in the country illegally, according to ICE.On Tuesday, ICE shared more information about the 8 individuals who were arrested:Teodolfo Chavez-Revilla is from Mexico and has multiple convictions for driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication. Chavez-Revilla was deported to Mexico in 2019 and illegally reentered the U.S.Jose Chavez Gonzalez is from Guatemala, with arrests for driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and resisting arrest.Porfirio Velasquez-Moreno is from Honduras. Velasquez-Moreno was issued a final order of removal in 1999 and re-entered the U.S. illegally. He was also arrested for disorderly conduct.Maximo Santiz-Perez is from Mexico and was previously deported in 2010. His criminal history includes arrests for several traffic offenses and a conviction for illegal re-entry.Aurelio Miguel-Virves is from Guatemala.Apolinario Garcia-Hernandez is from Mexico.Nicolas Chimil-Celis is from Mexico.Eutiquio Ortiz-Escobar is from Mexico.In a statement, ICE says..."ICE conducts targeted enforcement operations focused on specific individuals. During these operations, officers may encounter other individuals who are not the intended targets but are in the country unlawfully. ICE arrests those individuals for immigration law violations, referring to these actions as collateral arrests.”