U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with several federal agencies, conducted a week-long enforcement operation resulting in the arrest of 48 individuals who were illegally present in the United States. The operation, which concluded on March 8, took place in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Roswell, New Mexico.
The arrested individuals either remained in the country despite removal orders from an immigration judge or had been charged or convicted of serious crimes while residing illegally in the U.S. Among those apprehended, 20 had criminal charges or convictions for offenses such as homicide, criminal sexual penetration, sexual assault, battery on a household member, aggravated battery, drug trafficking, burglary-forced entry, driving under the influence, and shoplifting. Additionally, some were detained for immigration violations like illegal entry and re-entry after deportation. Twenty-one of those taken into custody have final orders of removal.
"ICE is grateful for our federal partners’ assistance in taking egregious offenders off the streets and out of our communities," stated Mary De Anda-Ybarra, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations El Paso Field Office Director. "These arrests exemplify the type of criminals living among us and highlight ICE’s commitment to our agency’s primary mission – protect public safety."
The enforcement actions are part of ongoing operations throughout ICE's El Paso area of responsibility, which includes West Texas and New Mexico.
