Hundreds of Illegal Immigrants Arrested in Summer 'Surge' against Immigrant Gangs
Cox News Service
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
WASHINGTON — A four-month nationwide "enforcement surge" against immigrant gangs netted more than 1,300 arrests in 23 cities, federal officials said Tuesday.
Some of the alleged gang members were charged with violent crimes such as assault, kidnapping and human smuggling, but most — 939 — were detained for immigration violations and put into deportation proceedings.
 Rick McKay/Cox News Astor Escalante, security and justice vice minister of El Salvador, reviews posters of arrested gang members during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) news conference Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007. |
Julie Myers, head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said that the arrests were part of a joint effort with state, local and international law enforcement agencies to combat the growing problem of violent transnational street gangs.
"We've arrested some of the worst of the worst," said Myers, at a press conference at ICE headquarters.
Most of the alleged gang members were in the United States illegally and about one fourth had violent criminal histories, Myers said.
Several of the arrests were in large cities such as New York, which had the highest number, 205. In addition, 160 people were arrested in Miami, and 121 in Dallas.
But many were also arrested in smaller urban areas, including 93 in Raleigh, N.C., and 34 in Boise, Idaho.
The arrested individuals allegedly belong to several violent gangs, including MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, a Central American gang known for brutal attacks.
Other targeted gangs included the Latin Kings, the Bloods, the Crips, the Vatos Locos, and a group called "Wetback Power," ICE officials said.
At the press conference, some weapons were on display to convey the brutality of some of the crimes committed by the gang members, including two large machetes. T-shirts and jerseys with the number "13" on the back were also on display, as well as a belt with the letters "M" and "S" on the buckle.
In addition, four large posters displayed photos of four arrested individuals, charged with various crimes including child molestation and assault with a deadly weapon.
"The behavior of these gang members is often as brazen as it is deadly," Myers said.
Astor Escalante, security and justice vice minister of El Salvador, said at the press conference that his country recently passed a strong law to fight organized crime and that many gang members are charged within that statute. In addition, El Salvador has created special courts to deal with organized crime that have convicted 90 percent of those charged, he said.
Sheriff Don Hunter, of Collier County, Fla., said an anti-gang initiative over the past several years has helped reduce crime there by 36 percent.
"Criminal illegal immigrants are committing crimes and victimizing our residents and it is our responsibility to investigate their immigration status thoroughly while investigating their other crimes. ... It is part of our mission," he said, at the press conference.
Police Chief Ralph Mendoza, of Fort Worth, Texas, said that charging gang members with immigration violations and partnering with ICE is a good way to get criminals off the street.
"When it comes to local law enforcement, we use anything within the tool box to make our city safer," he said.
The four-month enforcement push was part of a larger effort dubbed Operation Community Shield, which has resulted in the arrests of more than 7,600 members and associates of about 700 different gangs since 2005, ICE officials said.
On the Web:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: www.ice.gov