ICE arrests 30 convicted criminal aliens in Oklahoma during 4-day operation
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Thirty fugitive or convicted criminal aliens were arrested in or around Oklahoma City, or around Guymon, Oklahoma, during a four-day initiative that ended Sunday, and was conducted by local officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
This enforcement action, which began July 23, is the latest effort by ICE to prioritize the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens.
“Our dedicated ICE officers play a significant role in helping make our communities safer by arresting convicted criminal aliens and removing them from the United States," said Simona L. Flores, field officer director for ERO Dallas. "By focusing our resources on the most egregious offenders, we ensure the very best use of our resources, while immediately improving public safety.”
Oklahoma City Arrests:
Seventeen of these arrests occurred in the Oklahoma City area. Of those arrested, 16 have either been convicted of crimes or are wanted to face criminal prosecution in the United States. Overall, their crimes include: driving while under the influence, domestic assault and battery, cocaine possession, larceny and assault with a dangerous weapon. Three were found to have outstanding criminal warrants of arrest, and one had illegally entered the United States very recently.
Of the 17 arrested in Oklahoma City, two individuals fall within ICE’s Priority 1 category, which generally includes national security issues, felony or aggravated felony convictions. Eleven of those arrested during this operation were Priority 2 arrests, generally including those with three or more misdemeanor convictions (not including traffic convictions), such as sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, burglary, possession or use of a firearm, and possessing illegal drugs.
All of those arrested in Oklahoma City were men: 11 are from Mexico, three from Guatemala, two from Honduras, and one from El Salvador. They range in age from 18 to 52 years old. All those arrested will be held locally in ICE custody as they are processed for removal or await hearings before a federal immigration judge.
Guymon Arrests:
Thirteen convicted criminal aliens were arrested in the Guymon, Oklahoma, area during the four day initiative.
All 13 individuals have criminal convictions in the United States and fall within ICE’s enforcement priorities. Their criminal convictions include: assault and battery on a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic assault and battery, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, felony embezzlement, and driving while intoxicated.
Of the 13 arrested in or near Guymon, nine fall into ICE’s Priority 1 category; four were Priority 2 arrests.
Of those 13 arrested near Guymon, 12 were men; eight are from Mexico, four from Guatemala, and one is from Thailand. They range in age from 21 to 60. All those arrested near Guymon will be held in ICE custody as they are processed for removal proceedings.
“All law enforcement officers face potentially life-threatening situations when performing their duties,” said Flores. “This is especially true of our ICE officers when they target convicted criminals who are in the country illegally. The timing, strategies, and methods they employ are all aimed at ensuring the safety of everyone present.”
In fiscal year 2014, ICE conducted 315,943 removals nationwide. Eighty-five percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense. Ninety-eight percent of all ICE FY 2014 removals, or 309,477, clearly met one or more of ICE’s stated civil immigration enforcement priorities. The Dallas area of responsibility, which includes the state of Oklahoma, removed 15,030 aliens in FY 2014; 12,731 had criminal convictions.
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