Posted on 08/26/2010 6:29:43 PM PDT by donna
ICE gang surge nets 102 arrests in Phoenix, Yuma
PHOENIX - A total of 102 individuals with ties to 19 different street gangs are facing criminal charges or deportation following a six-day, multi-agency enforcement action in Phoenix and Yuma, Ariz. spearheaded by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The arrests were made as part of Operation Community Shield, an ongoing initiative by ICE-HSI's National Gang Unit in which the agency uses its powerful immigration and customs authorities in a coordinated strategy to attack and dismantle criminal street gangs across the country. As part of the initiative, ICE partners with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to target the significant public safety threat posed by transnational gangs.
Of the gang members and gang associates arrested during the enforcement action that concluded late Saturday, 29 are currently facing prosecution on state criminal charges, including outstanding warrants for gang-related violations. Three of the subjects arrested will also be presented to the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecution for felony re-entry after deportation, a federal violation that carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
"Gang activity poses one of the greatest threats to public safety in Arizona communities," said Matt Allen, special agent in charge for ICE-HSI in Arizona. "ICE is successfully targeting these gangs, arresting their leaders, disrupting their operations, and putting their members and associates behind bars."
Among those arrested during the enforcement action in Phoenix was a 33-year-old Mexican gang member in Mesa whose criminal history includes a conviction for aggravated assault in 2007. Another of the individuals taken into custody was a 27-year-old member of a Chandler gang wanted for burglary in California. The California Department of Corrections agreed to extradite Miguel Angel Lopez-Zuniga, who was booked into the Maricopa County Jail to await transfer to California.
In Yuma, ICE agents arrested gang member Fernando Ulloa, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, on Arizona state charges related to a conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering. Agents also arrested gang member Claudio Garcia, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen, for contempt of court.
Twenty-six of the gang members and gang associates arrested during the operation are U.S. citizens. The remaining 76 individuals are foreign nationals. The majority of the foreign nationals are from Mexico (58), but the group also includes citizens from Guatemala and Honduras. Those foreign nationals who are not being prosecuted on criminal charges are being processed for removal from the United States.
Since Operation Community Shield began in February 2005, ICE agents nationwide have arrested more than 18,000 gang members and gang associates. As part of the effort, HSI's National Gang Unit identifies violent street gangs and develops intelligence on their membership, associates, criminal activities and international movements to deter, disrupt and dismantle gang operations. Transnational street gangs have significant numbers of foreign-born members and are frequently involved in human and contraband smuggling, immigration violations and other crimes with a connection to the border.
No problem with free movement of illegales. Yeah.
How unusual, ICE doing their jobs... The election polls for November must really be bad for the Democrats.
“How unusual, ICE doing their jobs... The election polls for November must really be bad for the Democrats.”
They might also be worried about upcoming court decisions. “See, the system works...”.
Deportation is a revolving door.
I’m guessing Obama just didn’t know it was happening or he would have stopped it:
In February 2005, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began Operation Community Shield, a national law enforcement initiative that targets violent transnational street gangs through the use of ICE’s broad law enforcement powers, including the unique and powerful authority to remove (deport) criminal aliens, including illegal aliens and legal permanent resident aliens...
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/opshieldfactsheet.htm
These were the ones the Dems wanted us to find, the ones who were politically unreliable.
Dump them in a big vat of acid and be rid of the problem.
Ah, you could be right! Just when I think I’m too cynical, I find I’m not cynical enough.
Just because you’re not sure you’re not under-cynical is no reason to be under-cynical!
Bambi throwing the dog a bone?
I would rather they were dumped on Pennsylvania Avenue.
good one. you nailed it.....I’m sorry to say.
Fat lot of good that arrests make when they won’t be deported. 0bambi’s regime won’t deport them, under new rules and he is backdooring amnesty.
The stupid a$$hats in Congress haven’t caught on that his next step is to suspend Congress. He won’t need them with all the power he has.
WHEN that day comes, We, the people will be in open revolt.
The revolt has begun and in November there will be battle cries of "vote the weasels out" in most cities of this nation. I'm hearing this from independents and former democrats who now are aghast at what Obama and Pelosi have wrought upon us.
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