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7 alleged gang members face deportation

By
Tribune staff reporter
Published September 20, 2006, 12:57 PM CDT


Authorities today announced the arrests of seven alleged gang members from the western suburbs who entered the United States illegally.

The illegal immigrants, all Mexican nationals and documented members of the Latin Kings and Insane Deuces street gangs, were arrested Tuesday night and face deportation, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

All seven have criminal histories, which include convictions for voluntary manslaughter, burglary, drunken driving and illegally possessing a firearm, ICE said. Five of the seven are being held today in ICE custody pending their deportation.

Two others could face criminal charges for re-entry after deportation and for possessing a firearm as an illegal immigrant, according to ICE. Authorities said they discovered a shotgun and shells, ammunition and a police scanner in the Aurora home of one of the individuals.

Charges are pending today from the U.S. attorney's office, said Special Agent Thomas Ahern of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agency's West Suburban Gang Violence Task Force made the arrests.

ICE agents participate on the task force as part of "Operation Community Shield," a law enforcement initiative that focuses on dismantling violent street gangs with foreign-born members.

Since its inception in February 2005, the nationwide operation has made more than 3,400 arrests of gang members from 370 gangs, ICE said. More than 175 of those arrests were made by ICE agents in Chicago.

jgorner@tribune.com