April 02, 2009

10 arrested during ICE-led operation in Concord targeting gang members
Arrests include members and associates of MS-13 and Brown Pride street gangs

CONCORD, N.C.-- Ten foreign-born gang members and associates with ties to local violent street gangs were arrested here yesterday following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led operation.

The operation, dubbed Community Shield, was a multi-agency effort spearheaded by ICE. Among the participating agencies were the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office, Concord Police Department, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety's Alcohol Law (NC-ALE).

The operation targeted foreign-born members and associates of MS-13 and Brown Pride street gangs.

Of those arrested, nine are nationals of Mexico and one from El Salvador. All of them were found to be illegally present in the United States and are now in ICE custody; however, two of them, although administratively arrested, were remanded to State custody due to criminal offenses that include narcotics violations and obstruction of justice. ICE will begin removal proceedings on all of them.

"Public safety is a significant part of ICE's role in protecting the homeland, but it is also a shared law enforcement mission," said Delbert Richburg, assistant special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Investigations in Charlotte. "ICE works closely with other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe, which in this case is the removal of criminal gang members and others who threaten the safety of Brockton neighborhoods."

Transnational gangs pose a growing public safety threat to communities throughout the country. It is estimated that there are more 900 different gangs in the United States. These gangs no longer own turf in just the inner city but have spread their criminal networks throughout suburban and rural communities.

These transnational street gangs have a significant number of foreign-born members and are frequently involved in human and contraband smuggling, immigration violations and other crimes. Like any street gang, these transnational gangs also have a propensity toward violence. Their members commit a myriad crimes including robbery, extortion, assault, rape and murder.

Operation Community Shield is an ongoing national initiative in which ICE partners with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to address the significant public safety threat posed by transnational street gangs. Partnerships with local law enforcement agencies are essential to the success of the initiative, and they help further ensure officer safety during the operations.

Since ICE began Operation Community Shield in February 2005, more than 12,200 gang members belonging to more than 700 different gangs have been arrested nationwide.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at: 1-866-347-2423.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

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