ICE consists of three directorates to accomplish the agency’s mission, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Management and Administration (M&A).
ICE's primary mission is to promote homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration.
Catch up on ICE’s most popular news stories from the week ending March 25, 2016
ICE executes its mission through the enforcement of more than 400 federal statutes, focusing on preventing terrorism, immigration enforcement and combating transnational crime.
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Starting on June 19, ICE's HSI Newark initiated Operation Limelight USA, a program designed to bring awareness to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and prevent young girls from being subjected to FGM by informing passengers traveling to FGM high-prevalence countries about the U.S. laws governing FGM and the potential criminal, immigration, and child protective consequences of transporting a child to another country for the purpose of FGM.
Davi Sarah Bailey, 28, of Battle Creek, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint that alleges she threatened the sister of a 16-year-old identified only by the initials K.P.
According to court documents, Danny Josue Zelaya-Ortiz, aka “Jose Castro”, 29, was part of a conspiracy to charge illegal aliens in the United States a fee for transporting them from Texas to other states across the country.
According to law enforcement authorities, in June 2018, Task Force members with Laredo’s HIDTA were conducting surveillance of a downtown Laredo parking lot. They witnessed an individual transfer boxes from one vehicle to another. Task Force members approached the individual and conducted a preliminary search inside the vehicle. During the search they discovered a large cache of weapons and other related merchandise.
Three new companies and 16 companies that joined last year were recognized by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) employment compliance program called IMAGE at a recent ceremony.
Jason Vizcaino-Velepucha, 22, was removed from the United States via an ICE Air Operations Charter flight and transferred into the custody of Ecuadorian law enforcement authorities upon arrival to the capital of Guayaquil.
ERO officers removed Frank Adonay Gonzalez Valdez, an El Salvadoran national with MS-13 affiliations, June 15 and transferred him to the custody of El Salvadoran law enforcement authorities upon his arrival in his home country. ERO officers removed Andrew Wall, an Irish national and member of the organized crime syndicate “Cock-Wall Gang,” June 19 and transferred him to the custody of local authorities at Ireland’s Dublin Airport.
Gabriel Acosta Villa, 29, of Lake Forest, California, and Oscar Perez Jr., 23, of Santa Ana, California, are both charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.
On June 17, 2018, U.S. Border Patrol agents initiated immigration inspections on three vehicles – a 2013 Tahoe, a 2007 Suburban, and a 2008 Tahoe – traveling in a convoy on FM 2644 between El Indio and Carrizo Springs, Texas.
During the search warrant execution, authorities identified 146 Fresh Mark employees working at the Salem meat processor who were subject to arrest for immigration violations.
Anthony Cotter, 30, of Springfield, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to sexually exploiting children, and producing and possessing child pornography.
A Vietnamese national, who was in the custody of ICE died Tuesday morning at the Banner Casa Grande Medical Center in Casa Grande, Arizona. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death.
Operation Limelight USA is a program designed by HSI’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) to bring awareness about FGM and deter its practice by educating the public about the risks and penalties associated with it. It is based on the United Kingdom’s Operation Limelight which began at Heathrow Airport and is conducted by the Metropolitan Police Service and Border Authority.
Lester Cruz-Garcia, 21, was arrested July 6, 2017, by the Yonkers Police Department and charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation – apply pressure, assault in the second degree: intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, and harassment in the second degree: physical contact.
In March 2018, 32-year-old Leonard Lewis was charged with state violations of possession of child pornography. He has been employed as a coach at Tech Gymnastics and All Star Cheer in Woodinville, Washington. On previous occasions, Lewis also traveled internationally for employment as a cheerleading coach
HSI special agents arrested three U.S. citizens. All three are facing federal human smuggling charges.
The letter, originally written in 1493, was stolen from the Vatican Library and later sold in 2004 for approximately $875,000. This is the third Christopher Columbus’ letter repatriation in the past two years.
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.
During the operation, the Washington ICAC Task Force conducted 51 investigations involving peer-to-peer networks and made 47 arrests. HSI, as part of the task force, conducted 11 search and seizure warrants; made six federal arrests, four state arrests, and one state arrest pending military charges; and identified/rescued one minor victim.
All 54 suspected smuggled aliens were rescued Tuesday night after being discovered inside a tractor trailer; one of those rescued remains hospitalized.
Jeffrey H. Ernisse, 61, of Red Granite, Wisconsin, is currently incarcerated for state offenses related to child exploitation.
Timothy Joshua Adam Carnahan, 24, of Longview, Washington, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on charges of attempted transportation to engage in unlawful sexual acts with a minor. Carnahan must also serve 10 years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.
Jess Harlan Mallo, 44, of Williston, North Dakota, was sentenced June 11 to serve 20 years in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland for possessing child pornography. Mallo must also serve 10 years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.
