ERO Chicago arrests 17 noncitizens with criminal convictions during nationwide operation

CHICAGO - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago apprehended 17 removable noncitizens identified as having been convicted of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, or driving under the influence who had been released from incarceration on parole or placed on probation into communities under supervision during a nationwide enforcement effort between March 4 and March 13.

The enforcement effort was implemented to address removable noncitizens identified as having been convicted of attempted murder, murder-second degree, domestic violence, rape by force, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, or driving under the influence who had been released from incarceration on parole or placed on probation into communities under local, state or federal supervision prior to the ICE enforcement action. The apprehended noncitizens will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

Those arrested include:

• A 36-year-old citizen of Mexico in Elkhart, Indiana, convicted by the Elkhart County Superior Court of Indiana of felony assisting a criminal in May 2015 and felony strangulation in January 2023.
• A 64-year-old citizen of Mexico in Chicago convicted by the Cook County Circuit Court of Illinois of felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse with a victim under 13 in March 2022.
• A 21-year-old citizen of Guatemala in Chicago convicted by the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois of felony armed robbery with a dangerous weapon in May 2022.
• A 43-year-old citizen of Mexico in Chicago convicted by the Boone County Circuit Court in Illinois of aggravated driving under the influence in December 2008; convicted by the McHenry County Circuit Court in Illinois of driving under the influence in March 2013; convicted by the Kane County Circuit Court in Illinois of aggravated driving under the influence in November 2018; and convicted by the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois for driving under the influence in October 2022.
• A 46-year-old citizen of Mexico in Melrose Park convicted by the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois of felony criminal sexual abuse in August 2022.
• A 31-year -old citizen of Mexico in Bellevue, Kentucky, convicted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Unified Court of Justice Boone County in Kentucky of resisting arrest, criminal mischief, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in January 2022.
• A 44-year-old citizen of Guatemala in Dodge City, Kansas, convicted by the Ford County District Court in Kansas of felony aggravated domestic battery in November 2022.
• A 21-year-old citizen of Guatemala in Dodge City, Kansas, convicted by the Ford County District Court in Kansas of felony aggravated indecent solicitation of a child to commit act in January 2023.
• A 27-year-old citizen of Mexico in Glasgow, Kentucky, convicted by the Barren County District Court in Kentucky for operating a motor vehicle under the influence in October 2015; convicted by the Warren County Circuit Court in Tennessee for operating a motor vehicle under the influence in April 2020; and convicted by the Western District of Kentucky for operating a motor vehicle under the influence in February 2022.
• A 68-year-old citizen of Trinidad and Tobago in Indianapolis, Indiana, convicted by the Lake County Circuit Court in Illinois for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor in November 1995 and convicted by the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois for aggravated kidnapping, inflicting harm and aggravated criminal sexual abuse in May 2016.
• A 45-year-old citizen of Mexico in Chicago convicted by the DuPage County Circuit Court in Illinois for predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor in May 2016.
• A 46-year-old citizen of Mexico in Melrose Park, convicted by DuPage County Circuit Court in Illinois for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance in March 2002. In May 2009, the DuPage County Circuit Court convicted the noncitizen for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance to include a conviction of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targets and arrests noncitizens who have committed crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws. ICE officers, informed by their experience and training, use their discretion inherent as law enforcement officials to focus enforcement resources on people who threaten the homeland. The effort includes noncitizens with a final order of removal. Cases amenable to federal criminal prosecution may be presented to the appropriate U.S. attorney’s office.

In fiscal year 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories. This group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.

As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form. Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on Twitter @EROChicago.