Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 5

ICE Agents Target Criminals, Violent Gangs

ICE agents in Chicago and New York, working in separate operations, have arrested 60 criminal aliens and gang members with extensive criminal histories.

In New York, 41 criminal aliens with felony convictions were arrested by ICE agents February 2 as part of a joint public safety initiative between ICE and the U.S. Probation Office of the Eastern District of New York.

The initiative targeted criminal aliens who have been convicted of federal felonies and were on probation. Those arrested have prior felony convictions for murder, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, fraud, false statements, receipt of stolen property, producing false identity documents, copyright infringement and other federal felonies.

“We are committed to restoring integrity to the nation's immigration system by arresting and seeking the deportation of criminal aliens who have preyed upon the nation's communities and residents," said Martin D. Ficke, ICE Special Agent-in-Charge in New York. "These are the criminals who turn the American dream into a nightmare, and they will not be given the chance to cause more harm."

Twenty-two of the 41 criminal aliens arrested in New York are Lawful Permanent Residents, or so-called "green card" holders. The remaining 19 are aliens who are without legal status and will be entered into removal proceedings. An immigration judge will determine whether or not they can be deported.

The aliens arrested in New York include citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Trinidad, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela.

In Chicago, ICE agents and local law enforcement officers specializing in gang-related activity spread out across Chicago’s western suburbs February 7-9 arresting 19 foreign-born known street gang members. An additional five aliens were also arrested during the course of the operation.

Most of those arrested were Mexican nationals with the majority possessing extensive criminal histories, including convictions for drugs, aggravated assault, firearms and theft. One Guatemalan national was also arrested.

The Chicago operation targeted foreign-born members of violent Hispanic street gangs. It was conducted by ICE agents who were assisted by local Illinois police departments from Addison, Carpentersville, Elgin, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Streamwood and West Chicago.

Since 2000, ICE agents on Chicago’s Violent Gang Task Force have arrested more than 375 known gang members. ICE agents also identify gang members at jails and prisons and process them for removal from the United States.

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

425 I St NW
Washington, D.C. 20536
Attn: Office of Public Affairs
Russ Bergeron, Editor
Phone: 202-514-2648
Fax: 202-514-1776
Russ.Bergeron@dhs.gov