OAKDALE, La.- A two-day effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers here yielded the removal of 233 criminal aliens.

Among those deported here last week, was Mahmoud Maawad, a 31-year-old Egyptian national, convicted of wire fraud. Maawad entered the country as a visitor in 1998 and subsequently violated the terms of his visa.

Also deported was Mallorca Bitik, a 35-year-old Dutch citizen, involved in an international parental kidnapping case out of the Netherlands. Bitik entered the country under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, by which citizens of selected countries - including the Netherlands - are allowed to enter the United States using a passport in lieu of a nonimmigrant visa. Bitik, who violated the terms of her visa, was deported under escort and turned over to Dutch authorities.

Bitik's daughter was returned to her father's custody and following an evaluation by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the daughter departed the United States within 24 hours of her recovery.

"Our officers continue to work hard to ensure that the United States doesn't become a safe haven for criminal aliens," said Acting Field Office Director Steve Boll, who leads ICE's detention and removal efforts in New Orleans. "We will continue to remove those illegal aliens who pose a threat to our community and who have no legal right to remain in this country. Our law-abiding citizens should sleep better tonight knowing that there are 233 fewer criminals in our community.”

Those deported were convicted of numerous crimes including: drug possession and distribution; importation of cocaine; sex offenses; vehicular homicide; hit and run; aggravated assault; attempted murder and rape.

Those deported represent the following countries: the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Cape Verde, and Mexico.

Criminal aliens are non-citizens who have committed felonies or other crimes that make them ineligible to remain in the United States in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

-- ICE --