ERO Salt Lake City arrests 5 unlawfully present sex offenders as part of national operation
SALT LAKE CITY — Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Salt Lake City Field Office apprehended five unlawfully present noncitizens convicted of sex offenses during a nationwide enforcement effort Oct. 22 through Nov. 4. The law enforcement action conducted by ERO resulted in a total of 138 arrests nationally, including some with an executable final order of removal.
“This operation is emblematic of ICE’s mission to enhance public safety through strategic use of its legal authorities,” said ERO Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke. “These sex offenders will be removed from the U.S., ending and impeding their ability to further victimize residents of Nevada and Utah.”
This enforcement operation was implemented to address unlawfully present noncitizens convicted of sex offenses. Cases amenable to federal criminal prosecution may be presented to the appropriate U.S. attorney’s office.
Arrested in the Salt Lake City Field Office area of responsibility, which includes Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana:
- A 36-year-old citizen of Guatemala in Las Vegas, convicted by the District Court Clark County of felony attempted sexual assault against a child less than 14; sentenced to a minimum of six years with a maximum of 15 years in prison
- A 41-year-old citizen of Mexico in Las Vegas, convicted by the District Court Clark County of felony open or gross lewdness in the presence of a child or vulnerable person; sentenced to 48 months prison
- A 34-year-old citizen of Mexico in Las Vegas, convicted by the District Court Clark County of open or gross lewdness; sentenced to 69 days jail
- A 37-year-old citizen of Mexico in Tooele, Utah, convicted by the Third District Court, Salt Lake County of sexual battery; sentenced to 364 days jail
- A 25-year-old citizen of the Philippines in Reno, Nevada, convicted in the Second Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada in the County of Washoe of soliciting a child for prostitution and placed on probation for an indeterminate period of time not to exceed 24 months
ICE officers make case decisions in a responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement professionals and in a way that best protects against the greatest threats to the homeland.
Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review. EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ICE officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.
In fiscal year 2021, ERO arrested 12,025 individuals with aggravated felony convictions. Offenses associated with noncitizens arrested in FY 2021 included 1,506 homicide related offenses, 3,415 sexual assaults, 19,549 assaults, 2,717 robberies and 1,063 kidnappings.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on Twitter @EROSaltLakeCity.
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