SOUTHLAND – (INT) – Undocumented criminal immigrants are coming under increasing pressure for deportation.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested 244 individuals who pose a threat to public safety, according to an announcement Monday. All had previous criminal convictions. Fifty-six percent had felony convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as child sex crimes, weapons charges and drug violations.

The number arrested was a record for a four-day ICE operation in the Southland.

One-hundred-ninety-one of those taken into custody are originally from Mexico.

Sixty-seven were arrested in the Inland Empire. Many were already under deportation orders.

Story Date: September 4, 2015