U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 49 foreign nationals in Philadelphia during an operation that extended from May 14 to May 20 that targeted aliens with criminal records, fugitives, re-entrants and other violators of federal immigration laws.
Of the 49 individuals arrested, 17 had criminal records, and 14 had pending criminal charges. Six of those arrested had illegally re-entered the country after previously being removed, 14 had outstanding final orders of removal issued by a federal judge, and 14 had previously been released from the custody of Philadelphia County.
“This operation resulted in multiple arrests of criminal aliens, public safety threats and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws,” Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia Acting Field Office Director Gregory Brawley said. “Some of these dangerous individuals had been released to the streets instead of being turned over to ICE on our detainers, which compromises the safety of the homeland that ICE officers strive to protect every day. ICE will continue conducting operations to execute its mission and bring to justice those subjects who jeopardize the sanctity of our immigration laws and the safety of our citizens.”
An ICE release noted that all 49 arrests were made “in accordance with routine, daily targeted operations conducted by field operations teams every day to arrest criminal aliens” and others who violate federal immigration law. ICE added that it “does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately.”
However, ICE also noted that officers “frequently” encounter additional individuals suspected of violating immigration laws during targeted enforcement operations. Those suspects are evaluated on a “case-by-case basis for enforcement action.”