y The Associated Press
TULSA - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced Thursday the arrests of 45 gang members, gang associates and immigration violators after a six-day operation here.


The operation, which ended Wednesday, is part of a national ICE program called "Operation Community Shield," which partners federal, state and local law enforcement to target members of violent street gangs.

Fifteen of the arrests were of transnational gang members who are aliens; 17 gang members were U.S. citizens arrested on state warrants or criminal charges and 13 had no known gang affiliation, but were deportable due to criminal convictions or because they are here illegally.

Of the non-citizens arrested, 26 were from Mexico, one from Nigeria and one from El Salvador. All will be returned to their home countries after judicial proceedings and sentences.

The U.S. citizen gang members were turned over to local law enforcement.

ICE will present some of the aliens' cases to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal prosecution.

Along with the arrests, officials seized handguns, cash, cocaine and methamphetamine.

http://newsok.com/agencies-arrest-45...?tm=1216330604