ICE arrests 63 criminal aliens in 4-day Midwest enforcement surge

MINNEAPOLIS — Federal officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 63 criminal aliens and immigration violators in Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota during a four-day enforcement action, which ended Dec. 4.

During this operation, ERO deportation officers made arrests in the following states: Minnesota (22), Iowa (22), Nebraska (14), South Dakota (4) and North Dakota (1).

Of the 63 arrested, 47 had criminal convictions. Of the 16 non-criminal arrests, two had outstanding orders of removal, and four had been previously removed. Three women and 60 men were arrested.

Aliens arrested during this operation are from the following nine countries:  Mexico (36), Guatemala (13), Honduras (4), El Salvador (2), Somalia (2), and one each from Burma, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Gambia, Liberia and Ukraine.

Seventy-five percent of the aliens arrested by ERO deportation officers during this operation had prior criminal histories that included convictions for the following crimes: assault, domestic violence, larceny, child abuse, child neglect, drug-related crimes including distribution, fraud, hit and run, prostitution, driving under the influence. Additionally, one violator in Nebraska was a known gang member.

Seven of those arrested were immigration fugitives; 16 others illegally re-entered the United States after having been previously deported, which is a felony.  Depending on an alien’s criminality, 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.

Following are criminal summaries of three offenders arrested during this operation:

• Nov. 30 — ICE arrested a 65-year-old Mexican man in Lexington, Nebraska.  He was previously convicted of two felony counts of sexual assault. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
• Nov. 30 — In Lexington, ICE arrested a 39-year-old citizen of Somalia. He was previously convicted of felony sexual assault.  He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
• Dec. 4 — ICE arrested a 32-year-old citizen of Mexico, in Kearney, Nebraska. He was previously convicted of false identification to a peace officer.  He is also a documented member of the MS-13 street gang.  He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

“This operation targeted criminal aliens, public safety threats, and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws,” said Pete Berg, field office director for ICE ERO St. Paul. “Operations like this reflect the vital work our ERO officers do every day to protect our communities, uphold public safety and protect the integrity of our immigration laws.  We will continue working with our community law enforcement agencies in order to protect citizens and enforce immigration law.”

All of the targets in this operation were amenable to arrest and removal under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

ICE deportation officers carry out targeted enforcement operations daily nationwide 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 operations involve existing and established Fugitive Operations Teams.

During targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter other aliens illegally present in the United States.  These aliens are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and, when appropriate, they are arrested by ICE officers.