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Posted Online: 2006-11-15
Immigration names three of 17 nabbed in sweep


U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement confirmed today that its agents had arrested 17 "criminal aliens" in the Quad-Cities this week, including a French national previously convicted of a sex offense and other crimes.

Some of those detained are documented immigrants -- those with green cards or other documentation -- who have prior criminal convictions for offenses ranging from sexual assualt and weapons offenses to drugs and burglary.

The agency today identified only three of those in custody. They are, according to the agency:

-- Richard Jean Marie Rosenbaum, 29, a French national and permanent U.S. resident who has prior convictions for aggravated criminal sexual assault with a minor, aggravated assault, burglary, drunken driving, theft, trespassing and criminal mischief.

- Fidel Villafuerte-Gomez, 29, a Mexican national and permanent U.S. resident with convictions for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, domestic battery, and drunken driving.

- Manuel Villa-Gomez, 41, an illegal alien from Mexico, with convictions for possessing cocaine, unlawfully possessing marijuana with intent to deliver, disorderly conduct, and driving witha revoked license.

The whereabouts of those detained was unclear Wednesday afternoon. Thirteen of the immigrants had been in custody in the Rock Island County Jail, and were to be transported to Springfield for court hearings.

Locating, arresting and deporting aliens with criminal histories or convictions is a top priority for ICE, Ms. Montenegro said. Criminal aliens could be people in the United States without documentation, or it could be a legal permanent resident with green cards.

"A criminal record renders them eligible for deportation.," Ms. Montenegro said.

ICE targets criminal aliens because they present a threat to public safety, she said.