Thread: Chicago: ICE arrests 49 immigrants in gang sweep

ICE arrests 49 immigrants in gang sweep
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
By SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO --Federal immigration authorities arrested 49 men in a four-day sweep targeting illegal immigrants and gangs, officials announced Friday.

But the tactic, used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2005, has long drawn criticism from immigrant rights organizations who say the group arrests unfairly target Hispanics.

The operation focused in Chicago's north suburbs, ICE said. Of those arrested, 48 were illegal immigrants and one was a U.S. permanent resident. Most of the men were from Mexico and one was from Guatemala.

The men, who all face deportation, were accused of crimes including arson, battery, burglary and drug possession. ICE said 47 are members or associates of gangs including Brown Pride, Imperial Gangsters, Insane Dueces and Latin Kings.

"Street gangs pose a growing public safety threat to communities throughout this area," Gary Hartwig, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Chicago, said in a statement Friday. "We will not tolerate violent gang activity in our communities, and will use all of our law enforcement tools to thwart criminal efforts of street gangs. "

ICE started its "Operation Community Shield" in 2005 to work with local law enforcement agencies and fight transnational gangs. Since then, almost 9,000 people have been arrested nationwide from more than 700 gangs, ICE said.

But immigrant rights advocates have fiercely criticized the group arrests, saying they create stereotypes.

"These raids by ICE are publicity stunts designed to send a message that Mexicans are criminals," said Joshua Hoyt, executive director of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights. "They make it look like ICE is doing work and doing something."

The criticism isn't surprising to ICE, including its top official Julie Myers.

She has said the large-scale operations - including daytime raids that are carried out at factories, farms, restaurants and plants nationwide - help get criminals off the streets and carry out immigration law.

"There's no question that a lot of these laws had not been vigorously enforced a few years ago," Myers, assistant secretary of homeland security for ICE, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "I think there are some folks who are surprised that our efforts are so active."

Of the arrests announced Friday, nine men had been previously deported and 42 had criminal histories.

ICE worked with several agencies including sheriff's departments in four counties and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.
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http://www.bnd.com/326/story/401978.html

Brown Pride, Imperial Gangsters, Insane Dueces and Latin Kings.

HHmmm... I can't imagine why they target hispanic people????