KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: ICE operation yields 25 arrests in Arkansas

ICE operation yields 25 arrests in Arkansas

Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Wednesday the results of a seven-day national "Cross Check" enforcement operation-which led to the arrest of more than 2,900 convicted criminal aliens.

"The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE's ongoing commitment and focus on the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and those that game our nation's immigration system," said ICE Director John Morton. "Because of the tireless efforts and teamwork of ICE officers and agents in tracking down at large criminal aliens and fugitives, there are 2,901 fewer criminal aliens in our neighborhoods across the country."

This seven-day operation, the largest of its kind, involved the collaboration of more than 1,900 ICE officers and agents from all of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations' (ERO) 24 field offices, as well as coordination with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners throughout the United States. Arrests occurred in all 50 states and four U.S. territories.

"The removal of fugitive aliens, especially those with a criminal history, is a top ICE priority," said Scott Sutterfield, acting field office director for the ICE Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in New Orleans. ICE's Fugitive Operations Teams prioritize cases involving immigration violators who pose a threat to national security and community safety. Foreign nationals who violate our laws and commit crimes in our communities should be on notice that ICE is going to use all of its resources to find you and send you home."

Arrests made by the New Orleans field office include:

• A 57-year-old man residing in Pocahontas, Ark., from Mexico, convicted of sexual assault, second degree against a minor and is an at large criminal alien.

• A 40 year old man residing in Opelika, Ala., from Guatemala, convicted of Aggravated Battery and is an at large criminal alien.

• A 36 year old man residing in Ft. Payne, Ala., from Guatemala, convicted of burglary of a dwelling and domestic violence and is a fugitive criminal alien.

• A 39 year old man residing in Tuscaloosa, Ala., from Mexico, convicted of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and chemical endangerment of a child and is an at-large criminal alien.

• A 38-year-old man residing in Pontotoc, Miss., from Mexico, convicted of possession of cocaine."

• A 52 year old man residing in Kenner, La., from Mexico, convicted of Driving under the Influence of Alcohol and is a fugitive criminal alien.

• A 55 year old man residing in Franklin, Tenn., from Mexico, convicted of Lewd and Lascivious Acts with a Minor and is an at large criminal alien.

All of the 2,903 individuals taken into custody nationwide had prior criminal convictions including at least 1,282 aliens who had multiple criminal convictions. More than 1,600 of those arrested had felony convictions including manslaughter, attempted murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking, child abuse, sexual crimes against minors, aggravated assault. 

Of the total 2,901 criminal aliens arrested, 42 were gang members and 152 were convicted sex offenders.

In addition to being convicted criminals, 681 of those arrested were also immigration fugitives who had previously been ordered to leave the country but failed to depart.  Additionally, 387 were illegal re-entrants who had been previously removed from the country multiple times.

Because of their serious criminal histories and prior immigration arrest records, at least 146 of those arrested during the enforcement action were presented to U.S attorneys for prosecution on a variety of charges including illegal re-entry after deportation, a felony which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Others arrested nationwide include:

• Virgilio Lopez-Ruiz, 54, a national of the Dominican Republic, who was residing in the Bronx, N.Y., convicted on Nov. 16, 1988, of second degree attempted murder.

• Patrick Revelus, 39, a national of Haiti, who was residing in Peabody, Mass., convicted on Aug. 2, 1990, of assault by dangerous weapon, assault and battery by dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property.

• Ike Romanus Bright, 51, a national of Nigeria, who was residing in Kyle, Texas, was an ICE fugitive alien convicted on Nov. 5, 1986, of second degree attempted murder.

• Jose Gallardo, 51, a national of Mexico, who was residing in North Hollywood, Calif., convicted on March 21, 1996, of kidnapping a child under 14 years of age and shooting at an occupied dwelling. The Department of Justice is filing criminal charges for illegally re-entering the United States after having been removed. 

• Ian Kirt Kuar, 52, a national of Triniad and Tobago, who was residing in Hauppauge, N.Y., convicted on Nov. 14, 1975, of second degree manslaughter and convicted on May 12, 1995, of fifth degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

• Euford Brown, 60, a national of Jamaica, who was residing in Mattapan, Mass., was an ICE fugitive alien and a registered sex offender convicted on April 2, 1986, of rape.