ICE arrests 9 in northern Indiana during 2-day operation targeting criminal aliens and immigration fugitives
INDIANAPOLIS — Federal officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested nine criminal aliens and immigration violators in Indiana’s Allen, Elkhart and St. Joseph counties during a two-day enforcement action, which ended Wednesday.
During this operation, ERO deportation officers made arrests in the following Indiana cities: Elkhart (6), Fort Wayne (1), and South Bend (2). Eight men and one woman were arrested ranging in age from 26 to 59.
Aliens arrested during this operation are from the following five countries: El Salvador (2), Honduras (1), Israel (1), Ghana (1) and Mexico (4).
Several of the aliens targeted by ERO deportation officers during this operation had prior criminal histories that included felony drug convictions and convictions for possessing fraudulent identification documents. One was a known fugitive immigration violator, and three were arrested for illegally re-entering the United States after having been deported, which is a felony. These three cases remain in ICE custody pending presentation of criminal prosecution.
All were amenable to arrest and removal under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.
The following are criminal summaries two aliens arrested in Indiana during this operation:
- A 57-year-old, previously deported Mexican citizen was arrested Feb. 28 in Elkhart, Indiana. He was convicted of felony drug charges and was sentenced to four years in prison. He currently is in ICE custody pending removal.
- On Feb. 27, a 34-year-old Mexican citizen was arrested in Elkhart, Indiana. He has two criminal convictions, including possessing fraudulent government identification. He was issued a notice to appear before a federal immigration judge, and was placed in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Depending on an alien’s criminality, an alien who re-enters the United States after having been previously deported commits a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.
“This operation focused on targeting immigration fugitives and criminal aliens in northern Indiana, but we routinely conduct operations daily,” said Ricardo Wong, field office director of ERO Chicago. “By removing criminal aliens from the streets, our ICE officers provide a valuable community service by improving public safety.”
ICE deportation officers carry out targeted enforcement operations daily nationwide 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.
These operations involve existing and established Fugitive Operations Teams.
During the targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter other aliens illegally present in the United States. These aliens are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and, when appropriate, they are arrested by ICE officers.
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