ERO's special response teams rigorously trained and ready to deploy at a moment's notice
Not every person who enters the United States illegally does so to make a living. Some aliens cross the border to continue their lives of crime. Dangerous criminals and other individuals who pose a threat to public safety and the security of the United States are among U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) highest priorities for arrest and removal.
Hardened criminals, such as drug cartel and violent gang members are not always cooperative when arrested, taken into custody and removed from the United States. That’s a situation for the elite special response teams (SRTs) from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to handle. Members of ERO’s eight SRTs nationwide are trained to serve high-risk warrants under hazardous conditions, escort dangerous criminal aliens who have been ordered deported and assist local law enforcement agencies during critical incidents.
SRT members undergo a unique combination of specialized training and real-world experiences. The work of the SRT members is often grueling and so is the training they undergo at Ft. Benning, Georgia. SRT training lasts three weeks and includes several components. At a minimum, students must complete a 1.5 mile run in less than 12 minutes, drag a dummy for 25 yards, complete 30 pushups and scale over a six-foot wall in full tactical gear.
ERO San Antonio Field Office Director Enrique Lucero said he is proud of the San Antonio SRT, which was created in 2008 and today consists of 14 members.
“It takes a special person to become an SRT member. SRT members must undergo rigorous training each month, stay in peak physical condition, shoot accurately and be ready to go at moment’s notice to respond to any situation,” said Lucero.
ERO is charged with upholding America's immigration laws at, within and beyond our borders through efficient enforcement and removal operations. ERO identifies and apprehends removable aliens, detains these individuals when necessary and removes illegal aliens from the United States. ERO manages all logistical aspects of the removal process, including domestic transportation, detention, alternatives to detention programs, bond management and supervised release.
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