26 arrested in Colorado and Wyoming during 4-day ICE operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration fugitives

DENVER — Federal officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 26 criminal aliens and others throughout Colorado and Wyoming during a four-day enforcement action which ended Monday.  

The operation began March 31 and ended April 3. ICE officers made arrests in the following ERO Denver Field Office cities with 21 arrests in Colorado: Arvada (2), Aurora (11), Commerce City (3), Denver (1), Frederick (1), Thornton (2) and Yuma (1); and five arrests in Jackson, Wyoming. The ERO Denver area of responsibility includes the states of Colorado and Wyoming.

All those arrested were men ranging in age between 18 and 56 years old.

All the foreign nationals targeted by ICE officers during this enforcement action had prior criminal convictions. The majority of those arrested — 23 of the 26 — had criminal histories that included convictions for the following crimes: dangerous drugs, domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI), drug possession, illegal entry, larceny, possession of a controlled substance, selling heroin, sex offenses and sex offense against a child. Eleven of those arrested had DUI convictions.

Those arrested include foreign nationals from five countries: Mexico (18), Honduras (4), and El Salvador (2), Costa Rica (1) and Indonesia (1). Following are criminal summaries of four of those arrested during this operation:

• On April 3, 2017, a 22-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by Denver Colorado Fugitive Operations Team members. In August 2016, he was convicted of Felony Sexual Abuse of a Minor in the Third Degree and was sentenced to four years supervised probation. He unlawfully entered the U.S. at or near Douglas, Arizona, in November 1997.  He is currently in ICE custody pending his removal.
• On April 3, 2017, a 23-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by ICE officers. In October 2016, he was convicted of felony five stalking-emotional distress, and misdemeanor three harassment-telephone-threat/obscene, and was sentenced to two years of probation on both convictions. Also in October 2016, he was convicted of reckless driving and sentenced to two years’ probation. He overstayed the conditions of his Visitor Visa issued in April 2000. He is currently in ICE custody pending his removal.
• On April 1, 2017, a 21-year-old citizen and national of Mexico was arrested in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, by Denver Fugitive Operation Team Members. On March 31, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant for him for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation. In September 2008 he was convicted of misdemeanor interference with a peace officer and sentenced to 365 days incarceration and one year probation. Also in September 2008, he was convicted of Misdemeanor Battery of a Household member and sentenced to 180 days incarceration and one year probation. He will be turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service awaiting federal charges for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation. After those federal charges are fully adjudicated, he will be turned over to ICE custody and deported to Mexico.
• On April 1, 2017, a 42-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested in Thornton, Colorado, by Denver Mobile Criminal Alien Team and Fugitive Operations Team members. On May 29, 2014, he was convicted of improper entry by an alien. He has three DUI convictions: December 2010, October 2004 and July 1998. He was previously deported in June 2014. He is in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

During this ICE operation, ERO officers received assistance from special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

All of the targets in this operation were amenable to arrest and removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

ICE deportation officers carry out targeted enforcement operations daily nationwide as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls. These operations involve existing and established Fugitive Operations Teams.

During the targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter other aliens illegally present in the United States. They are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and, when appropriate, they are arrested by ICE officers.

In fiscal year 2016, ICE conducted 240,255 removals nationwide. Ninety-two percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a crime.