Thread: Omaha Gang Members Pose Challenge To Immigration Agents

Omaha Gang Members Pose Challenge To Immigration Agents
Those Deported Often Return, Agents Say
POSTED: 10:50 am CST February 24, 2009
UPDATED: 11:07 am CST February 24, 2009


OMAHA, Neb. -- A known gang member and illegal immigrant arrested in Omaha during a nationwide crackdown on violent gangs treated the U.S. border as a revolving door, returning to the U.S. weeks after his deportation, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

His case isn't unusual, officials said, and it presents one of their continuing challenges in keeping offenders off the streets.

The gang member, Juan Salmeron Ozuna, was deported to Mexico on July 30. Thirty-seven days later, he was arrested again in Omaha.

This time, he threatened to kill a federal agent while being taken into custody, ICE officials said. Ozuna, 18, was sentenced Monday to 12 months in a federal prison.

"Anybody that's going to threaten a special agent with ICE is someone I don't think we want in this community," said ICE agent William Walrapp said.

Walrapp said gangs like Surenos 13 are always committing crimes in Omaha.

"There's never a time in my office when we don't have open cases on street gangs," Walrapp said.

The gangs cast a violent presence online in YouTube videos and on the streets, where they deal in drug and gun trafficking, weapons violations and assaults.

In September, ICE officials swept the nation, including Omaha, and arrested 17 gang members. Ozuna and another man arrested were members of Surenos 13. Both men were deported to their home country and then they returned to the U.S.

Walrapp said ICE agents will continue to work the revolving door, determined to keep taking the offenders off the streets no matter what it takes.

"Ultimately there will be a time when they won't want to come back," Walrapp said. "That's what our goal is -- to keep them out of the U.S."


http://www.ketv.com/news/18784096/detail.html

They will just keep comming back untill we seal the border.