In a crackdown called Operation Return to Sender that began in May 2006, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have arrested over 2,100 illegal immigrants across the US.
Officials said the raids are aimed at child molesters, gang members and other violent criminals, as well as people who were deported by the court and then sneaked back into the country.
Officials arrest 2,000 in criminal immigrant sweepU.S. customs officials arrested more than 2,000 illegal immigrants, gang members and other fugitives in a nationwide sweep, the head of the U.S. Immigration and Customer Enforcement agency said on Wednesday.
The sweep, code named "Operation Return to Sender," has yielded arrests in 34 states since May 26 and comes as the U.S. Congress is debating several immigration measures, including proposals that would tighten border security and create a temporary worker program.
About half of the 2,179 people arrested in the operation had criminal records, and 367 were members or associates of violent street gangs, including the Mara Slavatrucha, or MS-13, Julie Myers, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for ICE told a press conference.
"America's welcome does not extend to immigrants who come here to commit crimes," Myers said.
Others arrested included 146 who had convictions for sexual offenses involving minors, and 640 were fugitive aliens who had been issued final orders of removal by an immigration judge and had not complied.
About 829 of those arrested on immigration violations have been deported to their home countries.
Well this all sounds good but are these just
"POLITICALLY-TIMED IMMIGRATION RAIDS?" or more of the failed
catch and release tactics of the past.
