ICE ERO arrests 34 at large criminal aliens in Maryland
I.C.ENews Release
December 19, 2012
Baltimore, MD
ICE ERO arrests 34 at large criminal aliens on Eastern Shore of Maryland
BALTIMORE — As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, officers of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore arrested 34 convicted criminal aliens during a two-day enforcement operation on the Maryland Eastern Shore.
"The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE's ongoing commitment to protect public safety with a focus on the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and those that game our nation's immigration system," said Calvin McCormick, field office director for ERO Baltimore. "ERO officers will work tirelessly to pursue leads in locating, apprehending and removing these at-large criminal aliens and repeat immigration violators from our Maryland communities that have blatantly disregarded the law."
ERO Baltimore's Criminal Alien Program (CAP) led the effort concluded Tuesday, which resulted in the arrest of priority targets in multiple Maryland counties including: Annapolis (9), Berlin (1), Queen Anne (3), Talbot (11) and Wicomico (10).
The 34 criminal aliens arrested during this week's operation have criminal convictions for crimes to include driving under the influence of alcohol, theft, criminal possession of a controlled substance, robbery and escape. Two individuals were identified as illegally re-entering the country after having been removed and will be presented to the United States Attorney's Office for prosecution for illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation, a federal felony offense.
Following is the nationality breakdown of the 32 men and two woman arrested: Mexico (15), Guatemala (8 ), El Salvador (4), Honduras (4), Ecuador (1), Trinidad (1) and United Kingdom (1).
This enforcement action was spearheaded by ERO's CAP, which is responsible for locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens. The officers who conducted the operation received substantial assistance from ERO's Law Enforcement Support Center, located in Williston, Vt.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.
ICE ERO arrests 34 at large criminal aliens on Eastern Shore of Maryland
34 wanted immigrants arrested in Annapolis, on Eastern Shore
By Kevin Rector, The Baltimore Sun
6:09 p.m. EST, December 19, 2012
Thirty-four immigrants who had been convicted of crimes and were wanted by law enforcement agencies were arrested this week in Annapolis and on Maryland's Eastern Shore in a two-day "targeted enforcement operation" involving federal immigration officials.
The operation, which concluded Tuesday, involved the arrests of two people who'd reentered the United States after having been removed previously, as well as the arrests of individuals convicted of drunken driving, drug possession, theft, robbery, and escape from jail, officials said.
Calvin McCormick, Baltimore field director for "removal operations" under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, touted the arrests in a statement Wednesday as the result of an "ongoing commitment to protect public safety with a focus on the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and those that game our nation's immigration system."
Federal officers "will work tirelessly to pursue leads in locating, apprehending and removing these at-large criminal aliens and repeat immigration violators from our Maryland communities that have blatantly disregarded the law," McCormick said.
Nine were arrested in Annapolis, three in Queen Anne's County, 11 in Talbot County, 10 in Wicomico County and one in Worcester County, officials said.
Of the 32 men and two women arrested, fifteen are from Mexico, eight from Guatemala, four from El Salvador, four from Honduras, one from Ecuador, one from Trinidad and one from the United Kingdom, officials said.
All those arrested face either deportation or deportation proceedings before an immigration judge, according to Nicole Navas, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman.
34 wanted immigrants arrested in Annapolis, on Eastern Shore - baltimoresun.com