Richard Jeudy, a Haitian legal permanent resident, arrested by ICE in Florida for alleged drug trafficking

ICE agents arrested the Riviera Beach man in late February following days of surveillance. His prior convictions include selling cocaine, heroin possession, and larceny.

Richard Jeudy, a Haitian immigrant and legal permanent resident of the United States, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Riviera Beach, Florida, in late February 2026, following a multi-day surveillance operation, according to the New York Post, which presented Mr. Jeudy as an “illegal alien”. However, in a video posted on its Facebook page, ICE confirmed he is a legal permanent resident. “You can’t be a legal permanent resident and sell drugs in the United States”, said one of the ICE agents during the arrest of Richard Jeudy.

The agency moved to arrest him based on his criminal history, which includes convictions for selling cocaine, heroin possession, and larceny, according to ICE.

The arrest is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement campaign, which has targeted not only undocumented immigrants but also legal residents with prior criminal records. The arrests also include many immigrants with no criminal background.

The fact that Jeudy holds a green card is legally significant.

As a lawful permanent resident, he is entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge before any deportation can be carried out. Under U.S. immigration law, legal permanent residents with certain criminal convictions — particularly drug-related offenses — can be placed in removal proceedings, but they retain due process rights that undocumented immigrants do not automatically receive.

ICE has the authority to detain legal residents it deems deportable based on criminal history, and drug trafficking convictions in particular can render a green card holder subject to removal under federal immigration statutes.

Jeudy’s arrest reflects a broader shift in ICE enforcement strategy under the Trump administration, which has moved aggressively not only against undocumented immigrants but also against legal residents with or without criminal records. Since January 2025, ICE has significantly expanded its operations across South Florida, home to one of the largest Haitian immigrant communities in the United States.

The New York Post, which first reported the arrest, described Jeudy as an illegal immigrant — a characterization that was inaccurate. ICE itself confirmed his status as a green card holder, a distinction that carries meaningful legal implications for how his case will proceed.

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