U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officers in southern California recently arrested two dozen sexual predators.
Officers from ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Los Angeles Field Office made the arrests spanning a five-day operation ending June 17 in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Riverside counties, according to a July 14 news release.
"The individuals arrested during this successful operation preyed upon the most vulnerable members of our society – our children," Enforcement and Removal Operations Los Angeles Field Office Director Thomas P. Giles said in the news release. "While this was a one-week operation, every day, ICE ERO deportation officers fulfill their sworn duty as law enforcement officers while ensuring public safety by arresting and removing these predators from our communities."
Those arrested already had criminal histories or convictions for sexual abuse, the release reported. Several were registered sexual offenders and had earlier removals from the country or orders of removal.
Among those arrested were a 24-year-old Guatemalan, a 45-year-old Mexican, a 44-year-old Salvadoran who previously had been convicted of felony lewd and lascivious acts with a child and 45-year-old and 50-year-old Mexicans with prior rape convictions, according to the release. None of those arrested were named in the release.
