ICE roundup in Arizona nets 47 suspected gang members
Daniel González
gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 10, 2007 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com

Federal agents partnered with local law-enforcement agencies throughout the country over the past three months to combat immigrant gangs, netting more than 1,300 arrests, including 47 in Arizona.

The 47 suspected gang members in Arizona had prior arrests for offenses ranging from murder and sexual assault to possession of false documents, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Of those, 20 were foreign nationals from Mexico who face possible deportation in addition to criminal charges, said Alonzo Peña, ICE's special agent in charge of investigations in Arizona. advertisement


"We went after gang members regardless of their (immigration) status," Peña said.
"If they are in the country illegally, we handled them that way."

The nationwide crackdown, known as Operation Community Shield, was aimed at reducing gang-associated violence and crime and dismantling criminal street gangs.

The ongoing operation started in 2005 and has netted more than 7,500 gang members or affiliates nationwide since its inception.

In Arizona, officials allege that some of those arrested belonged to violent street gangs, including the Mexican Mafia and Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13.

As part of the operation, ICE agents worked with Phoenix police and the Arizona Gang and Immigrant Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission, or GIITEM.

ICE agents in Arizona also partnered with officers from the police in Mesquite, Nev., to target a gang known as the Rebels 13 based in Beaver Dam, a town in the remote northwestern corner of Arizona.

Law-enforcement officials allege the gang was involved in home invasions, assaults and immigrant and drug smuggling and used the state border with Nevada to evade police.

Mesquite Police Chief Douglas Law credited ICE's broad immigration authority with helping take suspected gang members off the street.

"Anytime we can get people who have warrants who are involved in criminal activity, it's going to make a difference in the community," Law said.

ICE agents arrested 15 illegal immigrants affiliated with the Rebels 13 gang, including the suspected leader, Nolberto Ortega.

Ortega has a lengthy criminal history, including arrests for vehicular manslaughter, assault with a deadly weapon and battery, officials said.

He had previously been deported and faces criminal charges for re-entering the country, officials said.



Reach the reporter at daniel. gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8312.