Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said the nationwide Operation No Safe Haven Plus resulted in 18 foreign nationals sought for human rights violations or human smuggling and trafficking activity being arrested.
“These arrests are a critical piece of our ongoing mission to ensure that those who violate human rights abroad or engage in human smuggling and trafficking cannot abuse the immigration system to find safe haven here in the United States,” Tony H. Pham, senior official Performing the Duties of Director, said. “We are committed to investigating and bringing these criminals to justice. We want those who have fled their countries in search of safety in the U.S. to know that they won’t come face to face with their persecutors here, nor will we tolerate the smuggling, trafficking, or servitude of others.”
Authorities indicated the ICE National Fugitive Operations Program, in conjunction with the ICE Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and the ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, worked with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Newark, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City field offices to arrest the fugitives.
Those arrested have outstanding removal orders and are subject to repatriation to their countries of origin. Among those arrested are individuals known or suspected of human rights violations while being affiliated with human smuggling or trafficking.
Members of the public with information about foreign nationals suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are encouraged by authorities to contact ICE by calling the toll-free ICE tip line at 1-866-347-2423.