ICE raids expand to Caribbean territories

by Apr 18, 2018Federal Government0 comments

A recent enforcement action by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers has led to the arrest of 271 illegal aliens across Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The arrests were made between March 18 to March 22, 2018. The enforcement action targeted violators and those who posed a threat to public safety.

Of those 271, 91 had criminal records, including felony convictions for violent/serious offenses:

  • 1st Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Vehicular Manslaughter, Rape, Aggravated Assault, Attempted Robbery, Battery, Burglary, Child Neglect, Cruelty Toward a Child, Domestic Violence, Drugs Charges such as Possession and Trafficking, Weapons offenses, and Abuse of the Elderly
  • Additional convictions: DUI, fraud, harboring aliens, illegal entry and re-entry to the United States, resisting an officer, traffic offenses, trespassing and workman’s compensation fraud.

49 of the 271 were ICE fugitives, 39 were previously removed from the US and had returned illegally, 2 are known gang members and 2 have an Interpol Red Notice.

Of those 271, 253 were arrested in Florida, 11 in Puerto Rico, and 7 in the US Virgin Islands. Those arrested represented 36 countries around the world.

All who were arrested and removed were done so under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Marc J. Moore, the field office director for the ERO Miami Field Office, who oversees all of Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands said: “Communities across Florida and Puerto Rico are safer today because of the hard work of the men and women of ERO.”  

He also mentioned the support of other agencies during this operation: “During the operation, ERO was supported by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.”

Those who were arrested were either immediately deported, if they either had outstanding orders of deportation or had return to the US illegally after being deported previously; or they are currently pending in ICE custody for either a hearing before an immigration judge or travel arrangements for removal.

Since the conception of the National Fugitive Operations Teams (NFOP) – a branch of ICE, who plans and directs the national enforcement operations – in 2003, more than 350,000 illegal aliens have been removed from the US.