Thread: Statement from Secretary Kelly on recent ICE enforcement actions

I.C.E. News Releases

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

02/13/2017

Statement from Secretary Kelly on recent ICE enforcement actions





WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a series of targeted enforcement operations across the country. These operations targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.

ICE officers in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio and New York City areas of responsibility arrested more than 680 individuals who pose a threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of our nation’s immigration system. Of those arrested, approximately 75 percent were criminal aliens, convicted of crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges.

ICE conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years. The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICE’s Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis.

President Trump has been clear in affirming the critical mission of DHS in protecting the nation and directed our Department to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety, have been charged with criminal offenses, have committed immigration violations or have been deported and re-entered the country illegally.

I commend the heroic efforts of the dedicated officers of ICE’s Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations and those who provided assistance from ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as cooperating state and local law enforcement agencies. These professionals put their lives on the line to protect our communities and country. There is no greater calling than to serve and protect our nation – a mission that the men and women of ICE perform with professionalism and courage every single day.

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/st...cement-actions

Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
www.ice.gov


February 13, 2017
Fact Sheet

ICE Fugitive Enforcement Operations


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) conducts targeted fugitive operations on a regular basis, both nationwide and locally in 24 field offices across the U.S. These enforcement operations, which are often referred to as Operation Cross Check, target public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.

Targeted enforcement operations are an integral part of ERO’s civil immigration enforcement strategy and serve to enhance the daily work conducted by ICE deportation officers to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation’s immigration laws.

National Fugitive Enforcement Operations
Since 2011, ICE ERO has conducted several national targeted fugitive operation enforcement efforts.

These operations include:
• February 2017 – Fugitive enforcement operations began Monday, Feb. 6 in the Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and San Antonio areas of responsibility, which resulted in more than 680 arrests of convicted criminal aliens and other immigration enforcement priorities;
• March 2015 – National Cross Check operation that resulted in 2,059 arrests nationwide;
• August 2013 – National fugitive enforcement operation resulting in 1,660 arrests including 1,517 convicted criminals;
• April 2012 – National Cross Check operation that resulted in more than 3,100 arrests;
• September 2011 – National Cross Check operation resulting in the arrest of more than 2,900 convicted criminal aliens;
• June 2011 – National Cross Check operation that resulted in more than 2,400 arrests across all 50 states.

Local Fugitive Enforcement Operations
Each of ERO’s 24 field offices also conducts local fugitive enforcement operations throughout each year. Examples of local operations include:
• January 2017 – Fugitive enforcement operation in Milwaukee resulting in the arrest of 16 convicted criminal aliens;
• December 2016 – Two-state fugitive enforcement operation in Michigan and Ohio resulting in 74 arrests;
• July 2016 – Los Angeles-area enforcement operation resulting in over 100 criminal arrests;
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• October 2015 – Fugitive enforcement operation in Central Pennsylvania area resulting in the
arrest of 12 criminal aliens;
• June 2014 – Month-long fugitive enforcement operation in the Chicago area of responsibility, which covers six mid-western states, resulted in 297 arrests;
• February 2012 – Fugitive enforcement action spanning two days in the Milwaukee area resulting in 20 convicted criminal alien arrests;
• May 2012 – Three-day fugitive enforcement operation in Georgia and the Carolinas that resulted in the arrest of 80 criminal aliens;

Key Facts:
• In national operations, the National Fugitive Operations Program and ERO’s National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center work closely with the field to develop and vet lists of potential targets and closely monitor progress through statistical reporting. During local fugitive operations, individual field offices generate their own target lists and manage reporting requirements.
• Some of the individuals arrested during enforcement operations may face criminal prosecution by U.S. Attorney Offices for illegal entry or illegal re-entry after deportation.
• Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to removal from the country.
• Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support.
• During targeted enforcement operations ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE.
# ICE #

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

https://www.ice.gov//doclib/news/lib...eet-fugops.pdf

History lesson:

2,059 convicted criminals arrested in ICE nationwide operation 3/1 to 3/5 2015