The consequences of the Biden administration's open-border policies continue to mount, hitting American taxpayers where it hurts most: their wallets. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has once again stepped up, arresting two more Haitian illegal aliens in Ohio who stand accused of illicitly collecting food stamps – benefits explicitly designated for American citizens.
These latest arrests, confirmed by ICE sources to Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, are a stark reminder of the breakdown at our nation's border. Both individuals had final deportation orders on their records, yet were allowed into the country under the current administration. One even utilized the infamous CBP One cell phone app, a digital turnstile that has effectively accelerated the entry of countless unvetted individuals.
Consider the case of Icles Cerome, apprehended in Westerville. He illegally crossed into Brownsville, Texas, just last December, only to be caught and then, incredibly, released by Border Patrol. Within roughly a month, an immigration judge ordered his deportation. Yet, even with a removal order hanging over him, Cerome admitted to ICE officers that he was receiving SNAP benefits in Ohio. This is not just a policy failure; it's an insult to every hardworking American taxpayer.
Then there's Clairinor Duclerc, arrested in Columbus. His entry was facilitated via the CBP One app at California's San Ysidro crossing in March 2024. Despite a final removal order set for January 2025 and an active bench warrant out of Franklin County, Duclerc was living freely in Ohio, claiming residence with his Haitian wife and their 1-year-old son, who is a U.S. citizen. The audacity of exploiting our system while awaiting deportation is simply galling.
These recent operations are part of a critical nationwide crackdown initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week. The initial phase netted five individuals – four Haitian nationals and one Cuban national – all accused of SNAP fraud. DHS rightly labeled this the "opening salvo" of a much larger, and desperately needed, enforcement push.
It's no coincidence that the first four Haitian nationals arrested in this operation were all Ohio cases, with one even attempting to flee agents on foot near a Springfield shopping center. Apparently, common sense needed a permission slip for government officials to realize that programs meant for Americans should, in fact, be for Americans.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin hit the nail on the head, unequivocally stating that illegal aliens, who have no legal right to be in this country, should be the absolute last people drawing SNAP benefits. "These programs are for Americans only," Mullin declared, a sentiment that resonates deeply with the America First movement.
The scale of the problem is staggering. Last year alone, Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services reported roughly 41,900 noncitizens received SNAP benefits, though they claim many were lawful permanent residents. Yet, these ongoing arrests expose how deeply the system has been compromised by those who have no legal claim to our resources.
Federal prosecutors are actively pursuing separate SNAP cases across multiple states, including Ohio, Illinois, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Arizona, with one Ohio indictment uncovering an alleged $29.7 million scheme. The Justice Department’s initial sweep alone unearthed nearly $42 million in SNAP fraud, leading to close to $45 million in total government losses. This isn't just a few bad apples; this is a systemic hemorrhage of taxpayer dollars, enabled by policies that refuse to put American citizens first.
The continued arrests of illegal aliens engaging in welfare fraud underscore a critical truth: a nation without secure borders is a nation without secure resources. It's time to fully restore law and order, end the perverse incentives of the Biden administration's open-border agenda, and ensure that America's vital social safety nets are preserved for the American people, as they were always intended. This is the bedrock of the America First promise, and the fight for accountability continues.
