ICE arrests 86 criminal aliens in Texas and Oklahoma during 3-day sweep

Federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 86 criminal aliens and immigration violators in North Texas and Oklahoma during a three-day enforcement action which culminated on January 25. According to an ICE press release from January 26, those arrested during the recent sweep were from a variety of countries including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Jordan, Laos, Liberia, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines and Zimbabwe.

Officials say that of the 86 people arrested, 21 of them had already been deported and had illegally re-entered the U.S.  Re-entering the United States illegally after having been deported is a felony. Depending upon the alien’s criminal history, 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.

Those arrested range in age from 19 to 61 years old. Of the 86 aliens arrested, 55 had criminal convictions; 82 were men; and four were women.

Criminal histories of those arrested include convictions for: sexually exploiting a minor, assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug possession, burglary, obstructing police, larceny, manufacturing methamphetamine, firearms offense, smuggling, receiving stolen property, illegally entering the U.S., and driving under the influence (DUI).

“This operation focused on targeting immigration fugitives and criminal aliens in North Texas and the state of Oklahoma, but we routinely conduct operations daily,” said Bret Bradford, field office director of ERO Dallas. “By removing criminal aliens from the streets, our ICE officers provide a valuable community service by improving public safety.”  ~ per KFOR in Oklahoma

The recent sweep appears to show the Trump administration’s commitment to removing criminal aliens from U.S. streets.  According to a separate ICE press release from earlier in January …

“ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy. However, as ICE Deputy Director Thomas Homan has made clear, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.”

For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.

~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter