Making Immigration Happen
Chicago Woman Arrested for Selling Fraudulent Identity Documents to Illegal Aliens
A woman was arrested Wednesday, February 13, 2013, on charges she allegedly sold fraudulent identity documents to illegal aliens. These charges resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigra

Tag Archives: ERO Criminal Alien Program

ICE Target Operation Arrests 34 Criminal Aliens

As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, officers of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore arrested 34 convicted criminal aliens during a two-day enforcement operation on the Maryland Eastern Shore.

“The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE’s ongoing commitment to protect public safety with a focus on the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and those that game our nation’s immigration system,” said Calvin McCormick, field office director for ERO Baltimore. “ERO officers will work tirelessly to pursue leads in locating, apprehending and removing these at-large criminal aliens and repeat immigration violators from our Maryland communities that have blatantly disregarded the law.”

ERO Baltimore’s Criminal Alien Program (CAP) led the effort concluded Tuesday, December 18, 2012, which resulted in the arrest of priority targets in multiple Maryland counties including: Annapolis (9), Berlin (1), Queen Anne (3), Talbot (11) and Wicomico (10).

The 34 criminal aliens arrested during this week’s operation have criminal convictions for crimes to include driving under the influence of alcohol, theft, criminal possession of a controlled substance, robbery and escape. Two individuals were identified as illegally re-entering the country after having been removed and will be presented to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecution for illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation, a federal felony offense.

Following is the nationality breakdown of the 32 men and two woman arrested: Mexico(15), Guatemala (8), El Salvador (4), Honduras (4), Ecuador(1), Trinidad (1) and United Kingdom (1).

This enforcement action was spearheaded by ERO’s CAP, which is responsible for locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens. The officers who conducted the operation received substantial assistance from ERO’s Law Enforcement Support Center, located in Williston, Vt.

Mexican National Wanted for Murder is Deported by ICE

A 36-year-old Mexican national wanted in his native country for murder was removed Wednesday, October 24, 2012, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers.

Rigoberto Puga-De La Rosa was transported from the Seattle area by an ICE Air Operations charter flight to San Diego, Calif., where he was turned over to Mexican officials at the Otay Mesa border crossing.

Puga-De La Rosa was taken into custody by ERO Criminal Alien Program officers at the Grays Harbor County Jail in August and placed in removal proceedings following his release by local authorities. He was in local custody on state charges.

Records checks by ERO at that time indicated Puga-De La Rosa might be a suspect in a homicide committed in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Los Angeles-based representatives from the Mexican Attorney General’s Office subsequently confirmed there was an outstanding 2003 warrant for his arrest on charges of first degree murder. Mexican authorities requested theU.S.government’s assistance in returning Puga-De La Rosa to face charges.

Earlier this month, Puga-De La Rosa was order deported by an immigration judge, paving the way for his repatriation to Mexico Wednesday, October 24, 2012.

“ICE’s top immigration enforcement priority is to protect the community from individuals who may pose a threat to public safety,” said Bryan Wilcox, acting field office director for ERO Seattle. “Had it not been for ERO officers working cooperatively with local jail authorities to screen inmates for immigration violations, this dangerous murder suspect would have been set free.”

Puga-De La Rosa was held by ICE at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma pending his removal.

ERO’s Criminal Alien Program (CAP) identifies potentially deportable aliens incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout the United States. CAP officers interview and review inmates’ biographical information. Although ERO initiates removal proceedings against criminal aliens through CAP, these individuals may remain in prison or jail to complete their criminal hearings or sentences. Under CAP, ERO uses a risk-based approach to make determinations about the detention and arrest of criminal aliens, with priority given to cases involving individuals deemed to be a security or public safety threat.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 500 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with ICE’s Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.