ERO arrests 366 noncitizens during recent national operation
WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) announced today the arrest of 366 noncitizens during a national operation that ran from Aug. 4 through 25, 2023. Officers focused enforcement efforts on priority fugitive noncitizens and priority noncitizens previously removed from the U.S. who reentered the country illegally; specifically, those identified as having a criminal conviction for certain felonies or convictions for other crimes including but not limited to murder for hire, manslaughter, sex crimes against children, assault with a firearm, battery, domestic violence, drug trafficking, possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence.
Officers prioritized enforcement actions in accordance with the Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law issued by Secretary Mayorkas on Sept. 30, 2021, and reinstituted on June 28.
Those arrested include:
- A 58-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic in Jersey City, New Jersey, convicted by the Hudson County Superior Court in New Jersey of felony possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute cocaine in December 2013.
- A 55-year-old citizen of Guyana in Hollis, New York, convicted by the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn of felony use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire in December 2008.
- A 54-year-old citizen of Mexico in Los Angeles convicted by the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles of felony lewd act with a child under 14 years of age and felony failure to register as a sex offender in July 2023.
- A 52-year-old citizen of Albania in Jacksonville, Florida, convicted by the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida of felony aggravated assault with a firearm and felony possession of dangerous drugs in September 2009.
- A 48-year-old citizen of El Salvador in Clinton, Maryland, convicted by the District Court in Arlington County, Virginia, of felony aggravated sexual battery victim under 13 years old in December 1994.
- A 48-year-old citizen of Mexico in Fresno, California, convicted by the Superior Court of California in Fresno of felony unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in May 2021.
- A 45-year-old citizen of Mexico in Chicago convicted by the Cook County Circuit Court of Illinois of felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, felony aggravated kidnapping and felony child abduction in March 2022.
- A 41-year-old citizen of Mexico in Bakersfield, California, convicted by the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield of felony assault with a firearm on a person in January 2020.
- A 37-year-old citizen of Ecuador in Meriden, Connecticut, convicted by the Meriden Superior Court of felony manslaughter second-degree in January 2019.
- A 36-year-old citizen of El Salvador in Washington, D.C., convicted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of felony second-degree child sex abuse in March 2023.
ERO officers evaluate individuals on a case-by-case basis, assessing the totality of the facts and circumstances to make informed arrest determinations. Those cases amenable to federal criminal prosecution can be presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. ERO also coordinates with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to evaluate the status and processing of relevant immigration applications, as appropriate.
In fiscal year 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories. The group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.
As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.
Members of the public can report crime and suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ICEgovERO to learn more about ERO’s missions and operations.