Immigrant rights group question ICE raid netting 30 supposed Latino gang members

Friday, August 05, 2011 4:29 p.m. CDT

MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ) - Immigrant rights advocates are questioning the claims of federal immigration enforcement officials after the arrest of 30 undocumented immigrants in Milwaukee last week.

The two-day sweep in Milwaukee was carried out by the Department of Homeland Security Investigation Agency with the support of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The arrests are part of what is called an enforcement and removal operation. This one netted 30 individuals all of whom officials claim are connected in some way to one of several Latino street gangs. But only six of them had outstanding criminal charges involving drugs or violence.

Nancy Flores of the group Voces de la Frontera says she's done background checks on 22 of those arrested and found no record of drug or gang offenses. She says relatives of 19 of them have come to the Voces de la Frontera office trying to find their son, father or brother.

Flores says her group tries to refer family members to attorneys who can track the deportation cases and at least try to arrange for them to visit their relatives all most all of whom are now being held in the Dodge County jail.

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