ERO Phoenix arrests 10 in local operation
PHOENIX — On Jan. 25, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Phoenix field office concluded a three-day operation in La Paz and Mohave Counties. The operation targeted 16 unlawfully present foreign nationals and resulted in 10 arrests. The collaborative effort involved ERO deportation officers from Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma.
The operation focused on increasing public safety by targeting people with significant criminal histories. Notable arrests included those with convictions for narcotics trafficking and possession, domestic violence, assault, driving under the influence and resisting arrest. Of the 10 arrests, one person was removed to their county of citizenship, three were charged with illegal reentry, and six were held in ICE custody pending hearings with immigration judges. ERO officers evaluate individuals on a case-by-case basis, assessing the totality of the facts and circumstances to make informed arrest determinations. Those cases amenable to federal criminal prosecution can be presented to the U.S. attorney’s office. ERO also coordinates with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to evaluate the completion of relevant noncitizen applications.
“The success of this operation is a testament to the unwavering commitment and professionalism of our ERO officers in Phoenix,” said ERO Phoenix Field Office Director John E. Cantu. “Despite the challenges posed by limited pre-operation surveillance, dedication led to these significant arrests that contributed to the safety and security of our communities.”
ERO Phoenix remains committed to enforcing the U.S. immigration laws and strengthening public safety. The office anticipates carrying out future operations and continuing its efforts to enforce immigration laws and bolster the safety of our communities.
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.
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