ICE DRO operation yields 330 immigration fugitive arrests
Two-week ICE DRO operation targeting fugitives yields more 330 arrests in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach counties


MIAMI - More than 330 immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested here following a two-week targeted enforcement action carried out by deportation officers assigned to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Miami Fugitive Operations Team.

During the two-week operation, which concluded Friday, ICE deportation officers located and arrested 332 immigration violators. The breakdown of the arrests by county are as follows: (147) in Miami-Dade, (104) in Broward and (81) in Palm Beach.

Of those arrested, 300 were immigration fugitives, aliens who have ignored final orders of deportation. The remaining 32, were immigration violators who are amenable to removal and who have been convicted of various crimes.

Sixty-eight of those arrested were processed for removal and placed on the Alternatives to Detention Program (ATD). In these cases, ICE DRO officers exercised prosecutorial discretion by placing aliens with final orders of removal, who were verified to be sole caregivers or as having medical concerns, on orders of supervision.

The ATD Program was originally created to ensure appearance at immigration hearings by aliens who were determined not to pose a threat to national security or community safety and who did not pose an unacceptable flight risk. This program has provided effective community based supervision to eligible aliens. The departure of those placed on the orders of supervision will be verified by deportation officers.

The results of the targeted enforcement action were announced at a news conference here today by Michael Rozos, ICE Florida Field Office Director for the Office of Detention and Removal.

"As a nation, we must protect the integrity of our immigration system," said Rozos. "While we are a welcoming country, we expect those wanting to immigrate here to do so in a safe, legal and orderly manner. If you choose to disregard our laws, you will be found, arrested and returned to your home country.â€Â