ICE arrests 27 in western Michigan operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration violators

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A Mexican national in the country illegally, who has a prior conviction for assault on a law officer, is among 27 foreign nationals taken into custody during a four-day operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week in western Michigan, targeting at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and other immigration violators.

Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 21, or more than 80 percent, had prior criminal convictions in addition to their immigration violations.

The Michigan enforcement effort comes days after the agency announced a 40 percent spike in administrative arrests nationwide over last year – 92 percent of which had a criminal conviction or a pending criminal charge, were an ICE fugitive, or were an illegal re-entrant.

Criminal convictions of those arrested during the Michigan enforcement actions included, but are not limited to assault on a police officer or probation officer, larceny, assault and battery DUI, operating while intoxicated, domestic violence, disorderly person, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, public indecency, indecent exposure, retail fraud and welfare fraud.

Among those arrested were:

• A 31-year-old Mexican male with convictions for assault and battery, domestic violence, and indecent exposure. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings.
• A 23-year-old Mexican male with convictions for assault on a police officer or probation officer, 3rd degree, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings.

The just concluded operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including individuals who re-entered the country after being removed, other immigration violators, and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.

Five of the individuals arrested during this week’s enforcement action could face federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the country. Individuals who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country.

The arrestees (25 men and two women) included nationals from five countries, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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.

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.

ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy. However, as ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan has made clear, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.