ICE arrests over 50 in central California operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives
SAN FRANCISCO – A previously deported Mexican national arrested in Santa Cruz who has prior convictions for a felony drug charge and DUI is among the 54 foreign nationals taken into custody during a five-day operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week in central California targeting at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives.
Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, 45, or over 83 percent, had prior criminal convictions – see table below. The statistics cover all of ERO’s arrests in the central California from Monday through Friday.
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS*
| DUI | 16 | Cruelty to a Child | 1 |
| Drug Offenses | 7 | Obstructing Justice | 1 |
| Domestic Violence | 6 | Property Damage | 1 |
| Illegal Re-entry; Illegal Entry | 5 | Larceny | 1 |
| Weapons Violations | 3 | Traffic Offense | 1 |
| Battery | 1 | Sex Crimes | 1 |
| Burglary | 1 |
*Note: criminal aliens with multiple prior convictions are categorized based on their most serious conviction.
Among those arrested were:
- A Salvadoran national with a final order of removal arrested in King City who has prior convictions for felony child abuse and spousal battery; and
- A Mexican national arrested in Madera whose criminal record includes a prior conviction for carrying a concealed weapon.
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, and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.
“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers identify, arrest, and remove aliens who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, as well as those who enter the United States illegally or otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration laws and our border control efforts,” said David Jennings, field office director for ERO in San Francisco. “Operations like this that target and arrest convicted criminals and other immigration fugitives make our communities safer for everyone.”
Some of the individuals arrested during this week’s enforcement action will be presented for 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 (52 men and two women) included nationals from two countries, Mexico (53) and El Salvador (1).
The arrests occurred in seven counties and 18 communities.
COUNTY ARREST TOTALS
| Monterey | 19 | Merced | 10 | Fresno | 8 |
| Madera | 7 | Santa Cruz | 6 | Kings | 2 |
| Tulare | 2 |
CITY ARREST TOTALS
| King City | 7 | Fresno | 6 | Greenfield | 6 | Madera | 5 |
| Atwater | 4 | Salinas | 4 | Livingston | 3 | Santa Cruz | 3 |
| Watsonville | 3 | Chowchilla | 2 | Hanford | 2 | Merced | 2 |
| Soledad | 2 | Ballico | 1 | Goshen | 1 | Reedley | 1 |
| Sanger | 1 | Visalia | 1 |
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.
Since President Trump signed the Executive Orders (EOs) regarding immigration enforcement priorities, ICE has arrested more than 41,000 individuals nationwide who are either known or suspected of being in the country illegally, a nearly 40 percent increase over the same period in 2016. Almost 75 percent of those arrested during this period in 2017 are convicted criminals, with offenses ranging from homicide and assault to sexual abuse and drug-related charges.
Updated: