U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington recently arrested 84 foreign nationals during a three-day operation that targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives.
Among those detained by ICE was a previously-deported Mexican national charged with child rape, who was released by local authorities despite an immigration detainer.
“This operation highlights our commitment to promoting public safety through the pursuit of targeted criminals residing in the U.S. illegally,” Seattle’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Field Office Director Bryan Wilcox said. “Our officers will continue in their efforts to create safer communities by identifying and removing those not willing to comply with U.S. laws.”
Sixty individuals that were arrested by ICE had criminal histories, which included drug offenses, domestic violence charges, and various sex crimes.
A portion of the individuals arrested during the operation will be prosecuted for re-entry after deportation, a conviction that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Those not being charged for illegal re-entry will be placed in deportation proceedings.
Of the individuals arrested, 77 were men and 7 were women, and they included nationals from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the United Kingdom, Cambodia, Brazil, Laos, Philippines, Western Samoa, Myanmar, and Russia.