Thread: ICE arrests 45 in South, Central Texas

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ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL

09/26/2019

ICE arrests 45 in South, Central Texas during a 5-day enforcement operation


SAN ANTONIO — Federal officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 45 criminal aliens or immigration violators throughout South Texas during a five-day enforcement action, which ended Thursday.

During this enforcement surge, ICE deportation officers made arrests in the following Texas cities: Rio Grande Valley (24), San Antonio (, Austin (10) and Waco (3). Of those arrested, 41 were men; four were women.

Aliens arrested during this operation are from the following five countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Malaysia.

More than 88% of the aliens arrested (40) by ICE deportation officers during this enforcement surge had prior criminal histories that included convictions and or pending charges for the following crimes: assault, driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, failure to report an accident, driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, prohibited weapon, alien smuggling, burglary, larceny, probation violations, illegal re-entry after deportation, illegal entry, resisting officers, indecency with a child, indecent exposure to a child, fondling child-sexual.

Four of those arrested were immigration fugitives with a final order of removal; 27 others illegally re-entered the United States after having been previously deported, which is a felony. The remaining 14 arrests were processed as removable aliens.

Depending on an alien’s criminality, an alien who re-enters the United States after having been previously deported commits a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

“ERO enforces the nation’s civil immigration laws with direct significance for our national security, public safety, border integrity and immigration controls,” said ICE San Antonio Field Office Director Daniel A. Bible. “This proactive law enforcement operation thwarted the efforts of criminal aliens and provided a public service opportunity for the men and woman of ERO to protect our communities through efficient enforcement strategies.”

Arrest examples include:

• Sept. 20: ICE officers arrested a previously removed 35-year-old Mexican illegal alien in Mercedes, Texas. He is an active “Paises” gang member. He has criminal convictions for assault of a family member, and for driving while intoxicated (DWI). He also has four separate convictions for illegal entry into the United States. He also has two felony convictions for illegal re-entry after deportation; he was sentenced to 18 months and 29 months, respectively, in federal prison. He is currently pending federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation.
• Sept. 22: ICE officers arrested a twice-previously removed 37-year-old Mexican illegal alien in Raymondville, Texas. He has two DWI criminal convictions. His prior removal was reinstated, and he was removed from the United States Sept. 22, 2019.
• Sept. 23: ICE officers arrested a 46-year-old Mexican illegal alien in Alamo, Texas. He has two separate DWI criminal convictions. On June 4, 2013, a federal immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States. ICE officers effected the judge’s order by removing him to Mexico Sept. 23, 2019.
• Sept. 23: ICE officers arrested a 48-year-old Mexican U.S. permanent resident in Alamo, Texas. He has a criminal conviction for aiding and abetting/transportation of an unlawful alien within the United States for which he was sentenced to nine months confinement. He also has criminal convictions for two offenses of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Due to his criminal convictions, he is amenable to removal from the United States. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
• Sept. 24: ICE officers arrested a 66-year-old Mexican U.S. permanent resident in Waco, Texas. He has a criminal conviction for indecency with a child for which he was sentenced to 10 years’ probation/10 years house arrest. Due to his criminal conviction, he is amenable to removal from the United States. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

All the targets arrested during this operation were amenable to arrest and removal under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

ICE deportation officers carry out targeted enforcement actions daily nationwide as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety, and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls.

These operations involve existing and established Fugitive Operations Teams.

During targeted enforcement actions, ICE officers frequently encounter other aliens illegally present in the United States. These aliens are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and, when appropriate, they are arrested by ICE officers.

Last Reviewed/Updated: 09/27/2019

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ic...ment-operation

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