ICE Utah search warrant results in 19 arrested

ST. GEORGE, Utah — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in a joint operation with Washington City Police Department, served a Utah state search warrant May 14 for possession of false documents and illegal drugs at a collection of residences in Washington City.

Those into custody include:

• Six illegal aliens with final orders of removal, two illegal aliens with expedited removal orders, five illegal aliens with voluntary departures, and three with notices to appear before an immigration judge.
• An illegal alien from Mexico with charges of identity theft and forgery.
• An illegal alien from Guatemala with prior removal from the United States, and current charges for identity theft and forgery.

"By leveraging the assets of federal and local law enforcement, we will continue to successfully fulfill our mission of ensuring public safety and national security," said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr. "Our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners will ultimately result in safer neighborhoods and stronger communities."

During the search, 19 subjects were encountered and arrested for federal crimes, including being illegally present in the U.S., illegal reentry after a prior order of removal, Utah state charges related to forgery and identity theft, and one Utah state arrest warrant for drug-related charges.

The focus of the search warrant was a sprawling home with subdivisions throughout, designed to house dozens of adults in cramped, unsafe conditions. Local law enforcement records reflect multiple police contacts over a multiyear period for domestic-violence related shooting, drug-related calls, and numerous noise complaints, and was generally regarded as an "extremely problematic" dwelling by local law enforcement and city leadership.

This was a joint investigation between HSI St. George and the Washington City Police Department, with heavy involvement and support from Enforcement and Removal Operations in St. George, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. George Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff's Office. All arrested individuals will remain in ICE custody pending criminal or removal proceedings.

For more information, visit ICE.gov or follow HSI Las Vegas on X at @HSILasVegas.