Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been busy, arresting 145 illegal immigrants during a week long sweep in the San Antonio area, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
ICE says arrests were made in Austin, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Waco.
Of the 145 arrested, 86 had criminal convictions; 39 were arrested based on previous immigration encounters, four of which have pending criminal charges; 20 had no prior immigration history or encounters, one has pending criminal charges. Of the total arrests 135 were men and 10 were women. They range in age from 18 to 62 years old.
The immigrants arrested mainly come from Mexico, but others arrived here illegally from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, and Jordan.
ICE says illegal immigrants who were arrested in the sweep have criminal histories which include convictions for indecency with a child, assault, drug trafficking, burglary drunk driving, and immigrant smuggling.
Nearly half, 61, have been deported previously but re-entered the U.S. illegally. That is a federal felony, and those will be prosecuted, and could face up to 20 years in federal prison. The rest will be processed for deportation.
“The results of this operation are a clear indication of ICE’s commitment regarding the role we play in keeping our communities safe by locating, arresting and ultimately removing at-large criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety, and other immigration fugitives,” said Daniel Bible, field office director for ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) in San Antonio. “ICE’s leadership has made clear that ICE will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and – if found removable by final order – removal from the United States. By effecting these immigration enforcement operations, the dedicated men and women of ICE help keep our communities safe.”