Posted on 09/15/2006 5:25:11 PM PDT by mdittmar
GRAND RAPIDS — Federal immigration officials have completed a five-day sweep of western Michigan in which they apprehended 54 fugitive illegal immigrants who had disappeared after receiving deportation orders.
They also captured an illegal immigrant with an extensive criminal history who had illegally re-entered the United States after being removed, officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday.
The initiative, dubbed "Operation Return to Sender," started Sept. 8 and ended Wednesday. The agency focused its efforts within the triangle formed by Lansing, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek.
The sweep was part of an "interior immigration enforcement strategy" that is a component of a multiyear plan by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to secure the nation's borders and reduce illegal immigration.
The nationwide operation started in June and has resulted in the arrests of 2,179 illegal immigrants to date.
Agents and officers from the Detroit office of ICE, which is part of Homeland Security, carried out the enforcement operation. The sheriff's offices of Calhoun and Kent counties provided "significant assistance," ICE said.
Those arrested range in age from 20 to 62 years. They are citizens of 13 countries: Burma, Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Turkey and Yugoslavia.
"Taking fugitive aliens off our streets remains a top ICE priority," said Robin Baker, field office director for the agency's Detention and Removal Operations Office in Detroit.
"The enforcement targets apprehended in this operation had their day in court and were ordered deported by a federal immigration judge. Each alien was allowed to the leave the U.S. on the judge's terms. Now they face deportation on ICE's terms."
Baker oversees an area that includes Michigan and Ohio.
Among the 55 people arrested, 11 have criminal records for convictions ranging from breaking and entering to assault with the intent to do great bodily harm. Fifty-four of the 55 failed to comply with final orders of removal issued by federal immigration judges.
The other person taken into custody is a six-time criminal who previously was deported, said ICE spokesman Gregory Palmore. Re-entering the United States after having been deported is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Guess not,just some folks that want to do "a job Americans won't do"
I think we already know the answer.
You may find this of interest.
I'm already on it.
If we get hit again,their 30 second sound bites won't mean a damn thing.
They picked a poor place to live, Grand Rapids/Western Michigan is one of the most conservative areas in the state. If they tried here in Southeastern Michigan, they probabley would still be here.
ping
"They are citizens of 13 countries: Burma, Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Turkey and Yugoslavia."
So much for the myth that only Mexicans are illegally "immigrating" to the U.S..
Also underscores the importance of tightening up the varied visas that are being abused to reach the U.S. from other continents.
"Taking fugitive aliens off our streets remains a top ICE priority," said Robin Baker, field office director for the agency's Detention and Removal Operations Office in Detroit".
TOP PRIORITY! LOL!
More like a rare publicity stunt to shore up their tattered credibility.
"The enforcement targets apprehended in this operation had their day in court and were ordered deported by a federal immigration judge. Each alien was allowed to the leave the U.S. on the judge's terms. Now they face deportation on ICE's terms."
ICE terms should mean they leave with nothing more than a paper jumpsuit, everything they have here should be forfeit, it was all obtained via their illegal residency.
Bill their governments for the cost of their transportation out of the U.S.
If we get hit again, I would suggest our Washington crapweasels find someplace to hide. Fast.
WHOOPEE DO 54 illegals out of 12 million. Whats the big F-ING deal with this. If they would get off their dead asses as do their job as they should there would be a steady stream abross the borders.
These 55 good, upstanding foreign citizens just wanted to work. < /Dane >
By now, it should be completely clear that Washington has no intention of protecting our borders. Forget about the oft quoted "rule of law". It means nothing.
(Ducking and running)
...getting ready to vote five or six times in the upcoming elections.
Where is Dane...Maybe Dane was one of 'em...
This is upsetting news for Dane...thats 55 of his beloved criminal illegals that wont be raping and robbing US citizens this week.
But they're just here to work 24hrs a day and send 90% of their money back to their wife, 20kids and 100yo grandmother. Oh the pain and heartache!
Darn, next thing we'll find out is that there are illegal immigrants from Arab countries living in Detroit.
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