William Torres-Gamboa, a Cuban national, has been added to the "Worst of the Worst" list by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in St. Petersburg, Florida, according to an official DHS statement.
Torres-Gamboa has faced prior convictions for soliciting a first-degree murder and cocaine possession, marking some of the most severe offenses linked to Cuban citizens mentioned in the program's communications.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin signed the statement, praising the operation: "Every day, the brave men and women of ICE arrest and deport illegal aliens from American communities. Just yesterday, ICE apprehended child abusers, masterminds behind murder-for-hire schemes, violent attackers, and other dangerous illegal aliens."
The charge of soliciting first-degree murder places Torres-Gamboa among the most serious cases recorded in the program concerning Cuban citizens, similar to the case of Peguero-Cotarelo from January this year.
Mullin concluded the statement highlighting the administration's stance: "Under the Trump administration, DHS enforces the law, deports illegal aliens, and safeguards the homeland. It's no surprise that crime rates have hit all-time lows. We will always prioritize the safety of the American people."
Torres-Gamboa's case was one of five highlighted in Wednesday's statement, alongside nationals from Guatemala, Iraq, and Nicaragua, with offenses including first-degree child sexual abuse, aggravated assault, illegal weapon possession, and burglary.
The "Worst of the Worst" program was launched in 2025 during the Trump administration as a public platform to highlight ICE arrests of immigrants with serious criminal records, allowing searches by country of origin and state.
Since early 2026, several Cubans have featured on this list with crimes ranging from first-degree murder to child sexual exploitation and drug trafficking, with Florida being the state with the highest concentration of arrests.
Previous cases include Evis Peguero-Cotarelo, convicted of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in Miami-Dade, and Reinier Fuentes Armentero, arrested in Florida for four counts related to child sexual exploitation material.
The most recent case before Torres-Gamboa was Karel Pineda, included in August 2026, and just last week, Raidel Gato was reported following a conviction for armed robbery in Miami.
The arrest of Torres-Gamboa by ICE is part of ongoing immigration operations affecting Cuban nationals in the U.S. Stay informed with all the updates in our U.S. Immigration section.
Understanding ICE's "Worst of the Worst" Program and Its Impact
What is the "Worst of the Worst" program?
The "Worst of the Worst" program was initiated in 2025 under the Trump administration to publicly highlight ICE's arrests of immigrants with serious criminal backgrounds, allowing searches by country and state.
Why was William Torres-Gamboa included in the "Worst of the Worst" list?
William Torres-Gamboa was included due to his prior convictions for soliciting first-degree murder and cocaine possession, which are significant offenses highlighted by the program.
How does the DHS view ICE's operations under the Trump administration?
The DHS, under the Trump administration, views ICE's operations as essential for enforcing the law, deporting illegal aliens, and ensuring homeland security, leading to historically low crime rates.