Over a series of targeted enforcement raids conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, a total of 248 foreign nationals were recently arrested in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware.
ICE officials said the raids were specifically targeted at migrants who had previous criminal violations, such as illegal re-entries or wanted fugitives. The operations lasted from Feb. 27 to March 10.
Of the individuals that were apprehended, 120 had a previous conviction or pending charges, and 50 had been previously removed from the United States and subsequently illegally re-entered the country. Additionally, six individuals had been accepted for prosecution by United States Attorney’s Offices for charges of illegal re-entry and documentation fraud, and 18 were fugitives with outstanding final orders for removal by federal judges.
“ICE officers make extraordinary efforts to keep our communities safe, and this operation is just a small example of what they do every day,” Jennifer Ritchey, acting director of Philadelphia’s Field Office Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), said. “ERO officers took oaths to protect the homeland and to arrest individuals in violation of immigration laws. This operation resulted in multiple arrests of individuals with violent criminal arrests or convictions in the three-state region.”
ICE noted that the raids were not part of “sweeps” or checkpoints, and that the operations were conducted in accordance with the law and that individuals were not targeted indiscriminately.
Individuals that are not being prosecuted on criminal charges will be processed for removal from the United States.