- by Met
ICE arrests 161 in Los Angeles-area operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal
re-entrants, and immigration fugitives
• A total of 161 foreign nationals were taken into custody in Los Angeles and the surrounding
areas last week during a five-day enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and
immigration fugitives.
• Of those arrested, 151 had prior criminal convictions, or 94 percent of those arrested.
• Arrests included:
• A previously deported aggravated felon from Honduras with prior convictions for
drug trafficking, spousal battery, and petty theft. Records show he was recently
released by local authorities despite an ICE detainer
• A Mexican national with a final order of removal with prior convictions for drug
trafficking, a weapons violation, and spousal battery
• An Australian national with a conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child
• The stats cover the entirety of the agency’s fugitive operations arrests in Los Angeles and
surrounding areas from Monday through Friday.
• Last week’s enforcement operations were conducted in accordance with routine, daily
targeted operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive
operations teams every day to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in
violation of our nation’s immigration laws.
• ICE deportation officers conduct targeted enforcement operations every day in locations
around the country as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public
safety and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls.
• These are existing, established fugitive operations teams. ICE does not conduct sweeps,
checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately.
• This operation targeted 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.
• Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face criminal prosecution by the
U.S. Attorney’s Office for 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
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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.