A national operation to apprehended “unlawfully present individuals” who previously were convicted sex offenders resulted in the arrest of 21 noncitizens.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Los Angeles Field Office arrested the sex offenders from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4, a Nov. 21 news release reported.
“The 21 individuals taken into custody represent the most heinous criminal activity facing our communities and our children,” ERO Los Angeles Field Office Director Thomas Giles said in the release. “ERO Los Angeles’ fugitive operation officers will doggedly pursue any noncitizen that choses to not only flout U.S. immigration laws but seek to take predatory action against vulnerable children.”
The arrests were made under Operation SOAR, also know nas Sex Offender Arrest and Removal. SOAR is "a coordinated fugitive operations initiative that prioritizes the arrest and removal of unlawfully present convicted sex offenders,” the release said.
Individuals arrested included a number of Mexican nationals convicted of sexual acts against children in California, the release reported.
