LOS ANGELES - (INT) - 162 undocumented immigrants were taken into custody across Southern California during a three-day enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Targeted were at-large criminal suspects, illegal re-entrants and immigration fugitives, and those released back in to the community after detainers filed by ICE with local law enforcement officials were ignored.

This operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, and individuals who have violated the immigration laws of the United States, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.

Of those arrested in Los Angeles and surrounding areas from Sunday through Tuesday, almost 90 percent had criminal convictions. In 53 of the cases, ICE had filed detainers with local law enforcement officials notifying them of the agency’s intent to assume custody of these aliens once they were no longer subject to local detention.

Among those arrested during the operation are:

A 32-year-old Mexican national arrested in Maywood on June 10, convicted of rape and was sentenced to 8 years’ incarceration. This individual has also been identified as a documented gang member.

A 47-year-old, previously deported, El Salvadorian national arrested in Winnetka on June 12, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in prison.

A 50-year-old Mexican national arrested in Santa Barbara on June 10, who has a prior conviction for assault with intent to Commit Rape and was sentenced to two years confinement.

Other cases included individuals with convictions for serious offenses involving: weapons violations, domestic violence, various drug charges, sex crimes against children, assault against peace officer/emergency personnel and grand theft/larceny.

Five of the individuals arrested during the enforcement action have been accepted for federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the country. Individuals who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country.

The enforcement actions were conducted in accordance with routine, daily target operations carried out by ICE Fugitive Operations Teams with the intent to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation’s immigration laws. The arrests took place in Los Angeles County (80) Orange County (25) San Bernardino County (15) Riverside County (12) Santa Barbara (22) and Ventura County (8)

The arrestees (157 men and 5 women) included nationals from 12 countries.

Story Date: June 17, 2018