More Than 150 Illegal Migrant Predators Nabbed In 'Operation Dirtbag': Noem

More than 150 illegal migrant sexual predators were arrested in a massive sting operation referred to as "Operation Dirtbag," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced during an appearance on FOX & Friends Wednesday (November 12) morning.

The reported sexual predator arrests -- which included individuals previously convicted of child molestation and sexual assault -- were among 230 illegal migrants detained in Florida for various crimes, which also reportedly included murder and numerous drug offenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security via the New York Post.

“This operation was called Operation Criminal Return. I call it Operation Dirtbag because these individuals were sex offenders, but not just sex offenders, they targeted children,” Noem told FOX & Friends. “These 150 individuals will be gone off of our streets. Our kids will be safer.”

Noem said the sting operation, which was aided by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, was a model she wanted to follow nationwide.

“These individuals should have never been in our country to begin with,” she added. “The fact that they were sexual deviants and perverts, and now we’ve gotten them off of our streets, it’s remarkable. And we need to do more of it.”

Noem, who previously served as the governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025, was selected by President Donald Trump as the eighth United States secretary of homeland security shortly after his election victory last November.