Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
www.ice.gov


February 13, 2017
Fact Sheet

235 arrested in six Midwestern states during ICE operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives

A total of 235 foreign nationals were arrested this week in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens.
• 163 of those arrested had criminal convictions.
• In addition, 60 had been previously removed from the United States and subsequently illegally re-entered.
• Another 12 were immigration fugitives with outstanding final orders of removal issued by a federal immigration judge.
Those arrested included:
• A citizen of Iraq, arrested in the Chicago area, with a previous criminal conviction for criminal sexual abuse of a victim unable to consent.
• A citizen of Mexico, arrested in Indiana, with previous criminal convictions for domestic battery, aggravated criminal sexual abuse with victim under 13; and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a family member.
• A citizen of Mexico, arrested in the Chicago area, with previous criminal convictions for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor; attempted criminal sexual abuse, and solicitation for sex.
• This enforcement operation began February 4 and concluded Friday, and was conducted in accordance with routine, daily, targeted operations conducted by ICE fugitive operations teams to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation’s immigration laws. This is 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 are existing, established fugitive operations teams. ICE does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately.
• This operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.
• Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face criminal prosecutions by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after deportation.
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• Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the United States.
• Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support.
• During targeted enforcement operations ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriated, arrested by ICE.
# ICE #
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.
For more information, visit: www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423

https://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/libr...fugops-chi.pdf