The purge: Guam's attorney general to ramp up deportation of errant migrants

By Jayvee Vallejera

“Evel Knievel,” “Methamphetamine Man,” and “Buzzed Lightyear”— the Office of the Attorney General’s nicknames for convicted non-citizens—have been sent back to their home countries.

More convicted migrants are expected to be deported from Guam this year as Attorney General Douglas B. Moylan ramps up his “tough-on-crime” campaign in the final year of his term.

“The Purge" campaign reflects the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown.

But while critics viewed Trump’s swelling deportation force as an indiscriminate sweep, Moylan said his initiative focuses on ridding Guam of what he describes as "criminal aliens,” drug addicts and other errant noncitizens, "who hurt the people of Guam.”

Douglas Moylan

“Twelve more months of focused attacks upon criminals will conclude Moylan’s term as our chief law enforcement officer,” said a Dec. 30, 2025, news release from Moylan’s office.

The Office of the Attorney General rang in the new year with a new version of the “deport” billboard, installed along major roads.

“The Purge” billboards feature a stylized stop sign with an illustration of a man in shackles, wearing an orange shirt, clutching a passport and a tattooed arm, dragging a piece of luggage. The word “purged” is printed across the image.

At least 78 individuals have been deported since the initiative was launched in 2023. Most of those sent back home were from the Federated States of Micronesia, specifically, Chuuk.

The deportation of convicted migrants had precedent under Gov. Eddie Calvo in 2018, which displeased the FSM government.

Guam hosts FSM citizens, who are allowed to live and work in any U.S. jurisdiction under the Compact of Free Association.

Moylan’s office also announced “Purge Reels” on social media, featuring the “110 Tributes,” referring to the 78 individuals returned to their home countries and 32 others awaiting deportation. Some were nicknamed “Buzzed Lightyear,” “Evel Knievel” and “Methamphetamine Man.”

“Our reels will continue through AG Moylan’s remaining term,” said the news release.

Most deportees deny these accusations, and rights advocates have slammed the deportations as illegal, lacking due process, and arbitrary. 

In an email to the media, Moylan said the billboard is intended “to scare the %$@$ out of criminal aliens and change their abhorrent, destructive behaviors.”

He also said the “Purge Reels” are a warning to “guests” that they will be prosecuted and deported if they violate the law.

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The initiative has drawn pushback on social media. Critics say the campaign does not fight crime at its root and only reinforces stereotypes about people.

Moylan rejects this, saying in an earlier interview that his focus is on criminal behavior and that many of the deportees have lengthy rap sheets.

Moylan said his office is working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcers, as well as Guam’s courts and Department of Corrections, to prosecute and settle cases to remove convicted migrants from Guam and send them back to their home countries.

Moylan said his office is also working with Guam judges to deport non-ICE deportable criminal aliens with pre- and post-judgment plea agreements and stipulations to release with a bench warrant to deter re-entry into the United States.

Moylan said he is not targeting that specific community group.

“’The Purge’ protects alien crime victims as much as citizens, since criminal aliens prey upon their own countrymen and women just as much as the rest of us. Crime victims know no race, citizenship, gender, sexual persuasion or nationality. The suffering remains the same,” he said.

Moylan said common sense, practical considerations and out-of-the-box thinking will make Guam safer. It will also save the government money and prevent future crimes and victims, he added.

The Purge enhances Moylan’s Deport Air initiative, which allows eligible detainees to self-deport in exchange for a suspended sentence. 

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