Tag Archives: National Fugitive Operations Program

ICE Sting Operation Arrests 40 Criminal Aliens and Immigration Fugitives

November 7, 2012blogcriminal aliens, ERO, fugitives, ICE, immigration, immigration fugitives, immigration law, immigration law violations, National Fugitive Operations ProgramAlex Meyerovich

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, 40 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested during a three-day operation in the greater Indianapolis area.

This operation concluded Sunday, November 4, 2012, and was conducted by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations teams in Indianapolis.

Of the 40 arrested, 25 had prior convictions for crimes such as: assault, domestic battery, drunken driving, and drugs. Thirteen of the 40 were immigration fugitives who had been previously ordered to leave the country but failed to depart; the majority of these also had criminal convictions. Four of those arrested had been previously removed from the country and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony.

Following is the nationality breakdown of the 37 men and three women arrested: Mexico (33), El Salvador (2), Cuba (1), Guatemala (1), Honduras (1), India (1), and Peru (1). The majority of the arrests (34), occurred in Indianapolis. Additional arrests were made in the following Indiana communities: Brownsburg, Camby, and Westfield.

Following are summaries of two individuals arrested during this operation:

A 31-year-old Mexican national has a prior criminal conviction for driving drunk and endangering a person. He is also an immigration fugitive with an outstanding deportation order. He was arrested Nov. 4 at his residence in Indianapolis and remains in ICE custody pending removal.
A 34-year-old Mexican national has a prior conviction for drug possession. He was previously deported and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony. He was arrested Nov. 4 at his Indianapolis residence and remains in ICE custody pending removal.

“ERO is committed to making our communities safer by arresting and removing convicted criminal aliens and immigration fugitives,” said Ricardo Wong, field office director for ERO Chicago. “By targeting our efforts on these egregious offenders, we are improving public safety while making the best use of our resources.”

This enforcement action was spearheaded by ICE’s National Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for investigating, locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives.

ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ICE also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

“Latin Kings” Gang Leader Arrested

September 19, 2012blogcriminal alien, deportation, detention, ERO, felon, gang member, ICE, illegal reentry, Latin Kings, National Fugitive Operations Program, removalAlex Meyerovich

The second-in-command of the Latin Kings gang in Bryan, Texas, was arrested by fugitive operations officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Thursday, September 13, 2012.

Aldo Guadalupe Hernandez-Ramirez, 28, aka “Boss,” was arrested Sept. 13 at his residence without incident. He was previously removed from the U.S. on two occasions by ERO officers in August 2007 and August 2011. He remains in ERO custody while the U.S. government seeks criminal prosecution for illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Hernandez-Ramirez has convictions for carrying an unlicensed concealed weapon and assault causing bodily injury.

“ERO is committed to making our communities safe. A priority for ERO is the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens who ignore their deportation orders or disregard our nation’s laws,” said David W. Jennings, field officer director for ERO Houston. “This arrest is yet another example of ERO’s commitment to keeping at-large criminal aliens out of our communities.”

ERO is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ERO also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or those criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

The removal of criminal aliens from the United States is a national priority. To address this priority, ICE designed the National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP) within the ERO directorate. The primary mission of NFOP is to reduce the fugitive alien population in the United States. NFOP identifies, locates and arrests fugitive aliens, aliens that have been previously removed from the United States, removable aliens who have been convicted of crimes, as well as aliens who enter the United States illegally or otherwise defy the integrity of our immigration laws and border control efforts.

ICE encourages the public to report criminal activity and related information by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

ICE Target Operation SOAR Removes 50 Convicted Alien Sex Offenders

September 14, 2012blogchild predator, criminal alien, DPS, ERO, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, illegal alien, illegal reentry, National Fugitive Operations Program, Operation SOAR, sex offender alien, sex offender alien removal, TexasAlex Meyerovich

Following a five-day Texas-wide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation, 50 convicted alien sex offenders and other criminal aliens were arrested by officers with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also assisted with this operation. Twenty four of those arrests occurred in the north Texas area.

The goal of this operation, dubbed “SOAR” (Sex Offender Alien Removal), was to identify, locate and arrest aliens who have convictions for sex crimes, especially sex crimes against children. This is the first statewide operation that specifically targeted this criminal element. This operation was coordinated with ERO’s 16 Fugitive Operations Teams throughout Texas, and Texas DPS. Four Fugitive Operations Teams operated from Dallas and north Texas.

ERO’s Operation SOAR began Saturday, September 8, 2012, and ended September 12, 2012.

“This operation was specifically designed to target and arrest criminal aliens who have been convicted of sex crimes,” said Simona L. Flores, field office director for ERO Dallas. “By removing these criminal aliens from our streets and our country, we immediately improve public safety in these communities.” Flores oversees 128 counties in north Texas and the state of Oklahoma.

“DPS is proud to have worked together with ICE in this successful operation to target and apprehend ruthless criminals who prey on Texans,” said Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw. “These types of coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies at all levels are critical to protecting our communities and keeping criminals off our streets.”

Of the 50 men arrested throughout Texas, 47 had felony convictions, and 40 had convictions for sex crimes. One criminal alien residing in Houston had been convicted of murder.

Of the 24 men arrested in north Texas, 15 had prior convictions for sex crimes such as: indecency with a child, sexual conduct; unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child; sex offense against a child, fondling; and sexual battery of a minor. Other previous criminal convictions of those arrested in north Texas also include the following: possessing marijuana, evading arrest, drunken driving, alien smuggling, and aggravated robbery.

Seven of those arrested in north Texas had been previously removed from the country and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

All those arrested during operation SOAR in north Texas include men from the following countries: Mexico (19), Sudan (2), Laos (1), Nicaragua (1), and Vietnam (1). Those arrests occurred in the following communities: Dallas (11), Cleburne (3), Amarillo (2), Caddo Mills (1), Fort Worth (1), Garland (1), Lubbock (1), Mesquite (1), Perryton (1), Plano (1) and Waxahachie (1).

Following are criminal summaries of three men arrested in north Texas during this operation:

A 44-year-old man from Mexico was arrested by ERO officers Sept. 8 in Dallas. He had been convicted in 1989 in California of unlawful intercourse with a minor and sentenced to 365 days confinement and 60 months’ probation. After completing his prison sentence, he was deported and illegally re-entered the United States. He was again deported in November 1999, and is again being processed for deportation.
A 46-year-old man from Mexico was arrested by ERO officers Sept. 8 in Dallas, Texas. He had served six years in prison following his 1996 conviction in Houston, Texas, for indecency with a child – sexual contact. He was deported in 1999 and again in 2003. He faces charges of failing to register as a sex offender, and will be deported again after he completes any criminal proceedings against him.
A 46-year-old man from Mexico was arrested by ERO officers Sept. 9 in Caddo Mills, Texas. He was convicted in March 2006 in Dallas County, Texas, for aggravated sexual assault of a child, and was sentenced to 10 years confinement, probated for 10 years. As an alien convicted of an aggravated felony, he is eligible for deportation.

These arrests were coordinated with ICE’s National Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for investigating, locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives – aliens who have ignored final orders of deportation handed down by federal immigration courts. ICE’s Fugitive Operations Teams give top priority to cases involving aliens who pose a threat to national security and public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and child sex offenders.

ICE Sting Operation Arrests Over a Dozen Criminal Aliens in Maryland

September 5, 2012blogarrest, Baltimore Fugitive Operations, criminal alien, deportation, DHS, ERO, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, immigration, National Fugitive Operations Program, removal, targeted enforcement operationAlex Meyerovich

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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore Fugitive Operations teams arrested 17 public safety threats in Prince George’s County, Md., and surrounding areas as part of a three-day “Cross Check” enforcement operation targeting at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives.

“The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE’s ongoing commitment to strengthening and protecting 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 continue to work tirelessly in protecting the public safety of Maryland communities by locating, apprehending and removing these at-large criminal aliens and repeat immigration violators that have blatantly disregarded the law. Maryland is safer today because there are 17 fewer criminal aliens in our neighborhoods.”

This three-day operation, which commenced Aug. 28 and ended Aug. 30, resulted in the arrest of 17 males, all with prior criminal convictions including six with assault convictions (including assault on a police officer), three with drug distribution convictions, two with weapons convictions, three with larceny convictions, one with an arson conviction, and one has multiple DUI convictions. They are from countries spanning the globe including the Bahamas, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua and Sierra Leone. The 17 were residing in the following Maryland communities: Bowie, Brentwood, Glenn Dale, Hyattsville, Lanham, Oxon Hill, Seat Pleasant, Riverdale, Silver Spring and Upper Marlboro.

In addition to being convicted criminals, two of those arrested were also immigration fugitives who had previously been ordered to leave the country but failed to depart. Additionally, two were illegal re-entrants who had been previously removed from the country, a federal felony offense.

The arrestees include:

A 22-year-old citizen and national of Mexico, who was residing in Lanham, Md., convicted in December 2011 in Prince Georges County of second degree assault. He is currently in ERO custody pending immigration removal proceedings.
A 44-year-old citizen and national of El Salvador, who was residing in Lanham, Md., convicted in January 1995 in Prince George’s County of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and in October 1994 in Montgomery County of theft. Additionally, he was deported to El Salvador in September 1998 and illegally re-entered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown place. He is currently in ERO custody pending his removal to El Salvador.

These arrests were coordinated with ICE’s National Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for investigating, locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives – aliens who have ignored final orders of deportation handed down by federal immigration courts. ICE’s Fugitive Operations teams give top priority to cases involving aliens who pose a threat to national security and public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and child sex offenders.

Criminal Alien Wanted in Massachusetts is Arrested in Puerto Rico by ERO

August 20, 2012blogarrest, crime, criminal alien, detention, drug trade, drug trafficking, ERO, extradition, fugitive, fugitive alien, Fugitive Operations, HSI, ICE, intent to murder, National Fugitive Operations Program, removalAlex Meyerovich

A Dominican Republic national, wanted in Massachusetts for assault with intent to murder and drug trafficking, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations’ (ERO) officers Friday, August 10, 2012, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

Upon learning and confirming that Yael Sanchez-Correa was residing in Puerto Rico, an ERO Fugitive Operations team began a thorough search for the fugitive that led them to the residence of some of his relatives in the local area who persuaded Sanchez-Correa to make the correct decision to surrender to law enforcement authorities. He was arrested immediately after he surrendered to ERO officers in Guaynabo.

“The arrest of this Massachusetts fugitive by ERO officers in Puerto Rico should send a loud and clear message to those criminals who try to evade justice by fleeing a particular jurisdiction that ERO and its Department of Homeland Security partners will go after them,” said Marc Moore, field office director of ERO Miami. “ERO will continue working with our local, state and federal partners in an effort to protect our communities from those who pose a threat to our public safety and security.”

Sanchez-Correa was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case and possible extradition to Massachusetts.

The removal of criminal aliens from the United States is a national priority. To address this priority, ICE designed the National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP) within the ERO directorate.

The primary mission of NFOP is to reduce the fugitive alien population in the United States. NFOP identifies, locates and arrests fugitive aliens, aliens that have been previously removed from the United States, removable aliens who have been convicted of crimes, as well as aliens who enter the United States illegally or otherwise defy the integrity of our immigration laws and border control efforts.

ICE encourages the public to report criminal activity and related information by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

Target Operation in Chicago Nets Over 3 Dozen Criminal Aliens

July 23, 2012blogarrests, criminal aliens, drug trafficking, DUI, ERO, felony, fugitives, ICE, illegal aliens, National Fugitive Operations Program, target operationAlex Meyerovich

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, 44 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested the week ending in July 20, 2012, during a five-day operation in the Chicago area.

This operation concluded Wednesday, July 18, 2012, and was conducted by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Fugitive Operations Teams in Chicago.

Of the 44 arrested, 33 had criminal convictions for crimes such as: cocaine possession, burglary, battery, assault, distributing marijuana, fraud, aggravated DUI and domestic violence. Eighteen of the 44 were immigration fugitives who had been previously ordered to leave the country but failed to depart; 14 of those are convicted criminals in addition to having outstanding deportation orders. Ten of the 44 – including five convicted criminals – had been previously deported and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony.

Following is the nationality breakdown of the 44 men who were arrested during this operation: Mexico (33), Poland (5), Guatemala (3), Philippines (1), Mongolia (1), Slovakia (1). Chicago had the most arrests (14); additional arrests were made in the following 23 northern Illinois cities: Aurora, Bensenville, Cicero, Des Plaines, Elgin, Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Glenview, Highwood, Ingleside, Morton Grove, Mundelein, Naperville, North Chicago, Oswego, Park City, Park Ridge, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Wheeling and Winfield.

Following are summaries of two individuals arrested during this operation:

A 24-year-old Mexican national who was previously convicted of burglary and sentenced to three years in prison. He was arrested July 14. During the arrest, ERO officers discovered narcotics. He is currently facing state drug charges and is being held at the Cook County Jail with an immigration detainer.
A 43-year-old Polish national previously convicted of possessing ecstasy with the intent to deliver. He is wanted by Interpol for crimes regarding a fatal car crash inPoland. He was arrested July 17 and remains in ICE custody pending removal toPoland.

“The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety,” said Ricardo Wong, field office director of ERO Chicago. “By arresting and removing convicted criminal aliens, we immediately improve the safety of our communities.”

Indianapolis Target Operation Snags Two-Dozen Criminal Aliens

July 18, 2012blogarrest, criminal alien, deportation, detention, DHS, ERO, Fugitive Operations Team, HSI, ICE, illegal alien, illegal reentry, National Fugitive Operations Program, removalAlex Meyerovich

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, 24 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested during a three-day operation in the Indianapolis area.

This operation concluded Monday, July 16, 2012, and was conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) teams in Indianapolis.

Of the 24 arrested, 17 had prior convictions for crimes, such as: possessing drugs, resisting arrest, drunken driving, illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation and criminal trespass. Three of the 24 were immigration fugitives who had been previously ordered to leave the country but failed to depart. Another three had been previously deported and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony.

Following is the nationality breakdown of the 23 men and one woman arrested: Mexico (17), Guatemala (3), El Salvador (2), Honduras (1), and Venezuela (1). The majority of the arrests occurred in Indianapolis, with some arrests made in Franklin and Plainfield.

Following are summaries of two individuals arrested during this operation:

A 23-year-old Mexican national had been convicted of drug possession, and was sentenced to 180 days. He was arrested July 15 at his Indianapolis residence and remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
A 33-year-old Guatemalan national had been convicted of resisting a law enforcement officer and was sentenced to a year in prison. He was arrested July 16 at his residence inIndianapolis. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.