Child rapists, attempted murderers, drug dealers and gang bangers were among those arrested this week when U.S. immigration officials nabbed nearly 500 illegal aliens with criminal records living in sanctuary cities in a massive nationwide sting operation.
In a press release issued Thursday, ICE officials reported:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Fugitive Operations teams arrested 498 individuals from 42 countries for federal immigration violations in multiple cities across the U.S. during a four-day operation that ended Wednesday. Operation ‘Safe City’ focused on cities and regions where ICE deportation officers are denied access to jails and prisons to interview suspected immigration violators or jurisdictions where ICE detainers are not honored.
During the four-day operation, which ended Wednesday, ICE targeted sanctuary cities including Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, San Jose, Washington, D.C., and Boston.
Among those arrested was an illegal alien from El Salvador living in Baltimore, who’d entered the U.S. illegally on a fraudulent passport, and had previously been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and convicted of first degree assault. Despite her clearly violent record, Baltimore law enforcement released her after refusing to honor an immigration detainer.
An illegal alien from India residing in Boston had been convicted of indecent assault and battery.
In total, the group's collective rap sheet included 11 sex crimes against children, more than 30 various assaults, six for illegally possessing weapons, 86 DUIs and a slew of drug offenses.
“Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face federal criminal prosecutions for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after removal. The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States,” ICE officials said.