Thread: More Foreign Nationals Arrested In San Fernando Valley

More Foreign Nationals Arrested In San Fernando Valley


Twenty-eight arrests were made Friday, bringing to 37 the number of foreign nationals facing federal charges or deportation as a result of enforcement actions aimed at gangs in the San Fernando Valley, officials said.

The arrests made Friday morning were the result of the second of two major enforcement actions carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and aimed at immigrants linked to 15 violent Valley-based street gangs, the federal agency reported.

The other nine suspects were arrested during the first operation, which took place on Sept. 20.


Among those arrested Friday morning was Jorge Torres, 31, a reputed gang member who has been deported five times previously. He has been indicted by the U.S. attorney's office for "re-entry after deportation," a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to ICE.

The two enforcement actions were part of the nationwide anti-gang effort dubbed "Operation Community Shield," under which more than 5,000 gang members and associates have been arrested by ICE agents since February 2005.

In the Los Angeles area, more than 500 people have been arrested under Operation Community Shield.


Previous Stories:
October 3, 2007: ICE: Largest Criminal Immigrant Sweep Carried Out In LA



http://www.knbc.com/news/14279268/detail.html

"foreign nationals"

"immigrants"

Call them what they are - ILLEGAL ALIENS

I agree. Some of these reporters will do anything to make it sound like these people are not ILLEGAL.

I'm even more shocked, because it's an article about an illegal alien gang member who broke into our country 5 times!!!

The should say CRIMINAL ALIENS CAUGHT!

Deported five times? I thought you get 20 years in prison if you come back after being deported????

I say put repeat offenders (especially gang members) at guantanamo bay. They'd think twice about trying to sneak back in.

OR

If they are jailed here in the US, farmers will have all the free laborers they need.

Originally Posted by miguelina

If they are jailed here in the US, farmers will have all the free laborers they need.

We can call them H-2IA (illegal alien) workers

With a guaranteed path to deportation after they have worked off their sentence
time.

37 foreign nationals face criminal charges
Daily News
LA Daily News
Article Last Updated:10/05/2007 05:38:18 PM PDT


In the continuing crackdown on illegal criminal immigrants, 37 foreign nationals face federal criminal charges or deportation following the second of two major enforcement operations within as many weeks by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting aliens with ties to violent street gangs in the San Fernando Valley.
The latest arrests came as more than 200 ICE agents fanned out across the Valley this morning and in several other communities searching for foreign national gang members. Today's operation, which netted 28 arrests, is the second of two major enforcement actions carried out by ICE targeting aliens linked to 15 violent Valley-based street gangs. The first operation, which took place September 20, resulted in nine gang members and gang associates being taken into custody.

Among those arrested by ICE agents today was Jorge Torres, 31, a reputed member of the Project Boys, whose criminal record includes prior convictions for drug charges as well as battery on a police officer. Torres, who has been previously deported five times, has been indicted by the United States Attorney's Office for re-entry after deportation, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Most of the remaining targets were taken into custody on administrative immigration violations. They will be held in ICE custody and scheduled for a deportation hearing before an immigration judge.

"The people targeted in these operations are career criminals who often prey on members of the immigrant community," said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge for the ICE office of investigations in Los Angeles.

"We want to send a clear message to foreign national gang members that ICE intends to deal strongly with those who ignore our immigration laws and place our neighborhoods at risk."

Operation Community Shield is an ongoing nationwide initiative in which ICE is partnering with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to address the public safety threat posed by transnational gangs. The strategy uses criminal prosecutions and administrative immigration arrests to disrupt gang activity and dismantle the organizations.

The foreign nationals arrested as part of these latest ICE enforcement actions in Los Angeles are linked to more than a dozen different street gangs, including Canoga Park Alabama, San Fer, Vineland Boys, and Blythe Street. In addition to the San Fernando Valley, ICE agents made arrests today in Los Angeles and Palmdale.

The majority of the gang members arrested by ICE in the two operations are from Mexico, but the group also includes foreign nationals from El Salvador and Guatemala.

Since Operation Community Shield was launched in February 2005, ICE agents nationwide have arrested more than 5,000 gang members and associates. Locally, ICE agents in Los Angeles have made more than 500 arrests since the initiative's inception.

ICE will continue to use its broad immigration authorities, both criminal and administrative, against gang members, as well as its customs authorities to target gang-related narcotics smuggling and money laundering activities. Operation Community Shield also involves strong cooperation with existing federal, state, and local anti-gang efforts.


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