ICE arrests 331 in Midwest during monthlong enforcement action

CHICAGO — Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 331 individuals during a monthlong operation targeting criminal aliens and other immigration violators in six Midwestern states.

This operation, which began May 9 and concluded Monday, is the latest effort by ICE to arrest and remove convicted criminal aliens. The arrests were made in the following six states: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri.

“Our dedicated officers strive to make our communities safer by arresting convicted criminal aliens and removing them from the United States," said Ricardo Wong, field officer director for ERO Chicago. "By focusing our resources on the most egregious offenders, we ensure the very best use of our resources while immediately improving public safety.”

Illinois - 107 arrested

Ninety-six of the 107 have been convicted of crimes in the United States, including: robbery, possessing a stolen vehicle, aggravated DUI, rioting, aggravated sexual abuse, aggravated assault on an officer, and weapons offenses. The remaining 11 are agency priorities as recent border crossers. Twenty-one had previously been deported and illegally re-entered the United States.

The 106 males and one female arrested in the Chicago area are from the following countries: Belize (1), Bosnia (1), Ecuador (1), Guatemala (8), Honduras (3), Lithuania (3), Mexico (86), Poland (1), Senegal (1), and New Guinea (2). The majority were arrested in Chicago (47), Cicero (7) and Waukegan (5). Additional arrests took place in various Chicago suburbs.

Following are two case examples of those arrested in the Chicago area during this operation:

• A 25-year-old national of New Guinea with prior convictions for domestic violence, burglary (3x), and strong arm robbery. He was arrested June 3 in Chicago and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
• A 38-year-old previously deported Mexican national and documented Latin Kings gang member with prior convictions for drugs aggravated assault on an officer. He was arrested June 3 in Cicero and remains in ICE custody pending deportation.

Indiana - 25 arrested

Twenty-three of the 25 males have been convicted of crimes in the United States including: DUI, drugs, fraud, sex offense against a child, and domestic violence. The remaining two are agency priorities as recent border crossers.

Those arrested in the Indianapolis area are from the following countries: Mexico (22), Honduras (1), Pakistan (1) and Senegal (1). The majority were arrested in Indianapolis (15). Additional arrests took place in the following Indiana communities: Bloomington, Bremen, Elkhart, Jeffersonville, Lafayette, Richmond, Seymour, Shelbyville, and Tipton.

Following are two case examples of those arrested in the Indianapolis area during this operation:

• A 38-year-old Honduran national with a prior conviction for sex offense against a child (fondling) and an outstanding order of deportation. He was arrested May 18 in Bremen, Indiana and remains in ICE custody pending deportation.
• A 29-year-old Mexican national with a prior conviction for drugs and an outstanding order of deportation. He was arrested June 7 in Jeffersonville, Indiana and remains in ICE custody pending deportation.

Kansas - 31 arrested

Twenty-five of the 31 have been convicted of crimes in the United States including: battery, unlawful discharge of a firearm, sexual assault, aggravated assault, DUI, and robbery. The remaining six are agency enforcement priorities as recent border crossers. Ten of the 30 were previously deported from the United States and illegally re-entered.

The 30 males and one female arrested are from the following countries: Mexico (23), Guatemala (7), Honduras (1). The majority of the arrests were made in Wichita (15), Dodge City (5) and Garden City (4), with additional arrests in Great Bend, Hutchinson, Liberal, Newton, and Ulysses.

Following are two case examples of those arrested in Wichita during this operation:

• A 47-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for battery and aggravated assault. He was arrested May 24 in Wichita and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
• A 38-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for possession of a firearm and unlawful discharge of a firearm. He was arrested June 2 in Dodge City and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.

Kansas City - 39 arrested

Thirty-three of the 39 have been convicted of crimes in the United States including: burglary, weapons, drug trafficking, battery, DUI, fraud and sexual assault. The remaining six are agency enforcement priorities as recent border crossers. Seven of the 39 were previously deported from the United States and illegally re-entered.

The 35 males and four females arrested in the Kansas City area are from the following countries: Mexico (23), Guatemala (6), Honduras (4), El Salvador (2), Canada (2), Pakistan (1) and Kenya (1). The majority were arrested in Kansas City, Missouri (15) and Kansas City, Kansas (8). Additional arrests took place in the following Missouri communities: Belton, Brookline, Columbia, Independence, Pleasant Hill, and Riverside; and the following Kansas communities: Holton, Olathe, Overland Park, Shawnee, and Topeka.

Following are two case examples of those arrested in the Kansas City area during this operation:

• A 25-year-old Mexican national and documented Sur 13 gang member with a prior conviction for sexual assault. He also had an outstanding deportation order. He was arrested May 20 in Topeka, Kansas and was deported to Mexico June 3.
• A 28-year-old Mexican national with a prior conviction for a weapons offense. He was arrested May 10 in Belton, Missouri and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.

Kentucky - 49 arrested

Thirty-three of the 49 have been convicted of crimes in the United States including: grand theft auto, battery, sexual abuse, aggravated assault, DUI, hit and run. The remaining 16 are agency enforcement priorities as recent border crossers.

The 46 males and three females arrested in the Louisville area are from the following countries: Mexico (37), Guatemala (6), Zimbabwe (2), and one each from El Salvador, Ghana, Honduras and Mauritania. The majority of the arrests were made in Louisville (16) and Lexington (12), with additional arrests in the following Kentucky communities: Bowling Green, Covington, Crestwood, Elizabeth, Fairdale, New Albany, Nicholasville, Scottsburg, Sharpsburg, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, and Versailles. One arrest was made in Clarksville, Indiana.

Following are two case examples of those arrested in Kentucky during this operation:

• A 30-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for DUI, shoplifting, 4th degree sexual assault 4th, battery, and domestic violence. He was arrested May 11 in Lexington and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
• A 43-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for domestic violence, assault, aggravated assault-police strong arm, and terroristic threatening. She was arrested May 11 in Lexington and was deported to Mexico June 13.

Missouri - 34 arrested

Twenty-eight of the 34 have been convicted of crimes in the United States including: drugs, aggravated DUI, domestic battery, larceny and hit and run. The remaining six are agency enforcement priorities as recent border crossers. Eight of the 34 were previously deported from the United States and illegally re-entered.

The 33 males and one female arrested in the St. Louis area are from the following countries: Mexico (17), Guatemala (5), El Salvador (4), Bosnia (2), Honduras (2), and one each from Nigeria, Peru, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. The majority were arrested in St. Louis, Missouri (16), Champaign, Illinois (5), and Decatur, Illinois (4). Additional arrests were made in the following Missouri communities: Hillsboro, Imperial, Overland, Perryville, University City, and Valley Park; and the following Illinois communities: Bloomington, Carbondale, Carlyle, Caseyville, Flora, Murphysboro, and Vandalia.

Following are two case examples of those arrested in the St. Louis area during this operation:

• A 19-year-old national of El Salvador with two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested May 13 in Murphysboro, Illinois and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
• A 25-year-old Vietnamese national with prior convictions for drugs, larceny and damage to property. He was arrested May 11 in Imperial, Missouri and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.

Wisconsin - 39 arrested

All 39 males have been convicted of crimes in the United States including: illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon, battery, domestic abuse, 4th degree sexual assault, drugs, and drunken driving. Four of the 39 were previously deported from the United States and illegally re-entered.

Those arrested in Wisconsin are from the following countries: Mexico (37), Cuba (1), and El Salvador (1). The majority were arrested in Green Bay (12), Milwaukee (5) and Sturgeon Bay (5). Additional arrests took place in the following communities: Beloit, De Pere, Fond du Lac, Janesville, Jefferson, Kenosha, Madison, Manitowoc, New Franken, Pulaski, Racine, Seymour, Sheboygan, Unity, and Waunakee.

Following are two case examples of those arrested in Wisconsin during this operation:

• A 32-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for domestic abuse, criminal damage to property, and hit and run involving injury. He was arrested May 10 in Beloit and remains in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
• A previously deported 37-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for domestic abuse, theft, and 4th degree sexual assault. He was arrested May 10 in Green Bay and was removed to Mexico May 27.

Those arrested 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 remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future.

All of those apprehended during this operation were immigration enforcement priorities as outlined in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson’s 2014 memorandum.