ICE announced the arrest of over 100 illegal immigrants wanted for serious crimes, including child sexual assault and murder, in a nationwide enforcement action.
The operation led to the arrest of 171 individuals in 25 U.S. cities over 11 days.
The arrests included individuals wanted for or convicted of child molestation, child pornography, rape, and murder.
“Over the course of 11 days, our dedicated and committed law enforcement officers zeroed-in on removable, at-large non-citizens who are wanted for or who have already been convicted of horrible, almost unspeakable crimes like assault against children, including sexual assault and murder,” ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner said.
“The results of this week-long effort are a testament to ERO’s commitment to protecting the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws,” he said.
“Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel are committed to enforcing the nation’s immigration laws humanely, effectively, and with the highest standards of professionalism,” he said.
Some of those arrested had been previously deported.
In fiscal year 2023, ERO arrested 73,822 non-citizens with criminal histories, totaling 290,178 charges and convictions.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported over 3.2 million nationwide encounters for fiscal year 2023, a 15% increase from the previous year.
