2-state ICE operation nets 105 arrests over 10-day period

DETROIT – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deportation officers arrested 105 individuals during a 10-day targeted enforcement operation that ended Sept 25, targeting criminal aliens and other immigration violators.

Most of the aliens targeted by ERO deportation officers during this operation, which spanned Michigan and Ohio, had prior criminal histories that included convictions for the following crimes: domestic violence, DUI, assault, theft, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, driving while under the influence of drugs, criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree, illegal entry to the U.S., operating a motor vehicle without securities, sale or transportation of a controlled substance-cocaine, breaking and entering, fleeing police officer 3rd degree, probation violation, child abuse, false information to police officer, disorderly conduct, possession of cocaine, arson, retail fraud, hit and run, bringing and harboring aliens, attempted criminal sexual conduct, forgery, flee and elude, unlawful flight from law enforcement vehicle, petty theft, possession of marijuana, unlawful use of a weapon in a vehicle, trespassing, burglary of a habitation, assault causing bodily injury, illegal re-entry after deportation, and criminal endangering, among others.

Among those arrested during the operation are:

• A 39-year-old Mexican male was arrested near his residence in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 19. He has previous convictions for possession of cocaine, arson, and operating motor vehicle while intoxicated. He is also faces federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation
• A 40-year-old Mexican male was arrested in Detroit Sept. 19. He has previous convictions for operating while intoxicated, fleeing police officer, and operating while intoxicated 2ndoffense.
• A 28-year-old Burmese male was arrested at his residence in Grand Rapids m Michigan, Sept. 18. He has previous convictions of criminal sexual conduct 3rd degree, victim 13-15 years of age.

The arrestees (96 males and nine females) included nationals from 21 countries: Albania, Burma, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Suriname, Vietnam, and Yemen.

The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States.

Ten 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 who have outstanding orders of removal, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future.

ICE focuses its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. However, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States. ICE does not conduct sweeps or raids that arrest aliens indiscriminately.