17 arrested in northern Illinois during ICE operation targeting criminals

ROCKFORD, Ill. — As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ongoing efforts to focus agency resources on the arrest and removal of criminal aliens, 17 convicted criminal aliens were arrested during an operation carried out this week in northern Illinois.

The three-day operation, which concluded Tuesday, was conducted by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) as part of the agency’s commitment to prioritize the removal of individuals previously convicted of a crime.

All 17 Mexican males are convicted criminals whose convictions include: aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated drunken driving, domestic battery resulting on bodily harm, battery, carrying a concealed weapon, and drug-related crimes. Two of those arrested have outstanding deportation orders against them; two others were previously deported and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony.

Those arrested during the operation include:
A 51-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, battery, aggravated DUI, and attempting to obstruct justice. He was arrested May 10 in Rockford and remains in ICE custody pending removal.
A 31-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, battery, aggravated DUI, and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was arrested May 11 in Rockford and remains in ICE custody pending removal.

"ERO strives to make our communities safer by arresting and removing convicted criminal aliens," said Ricardo Wong, field officer director for ERO Chicago. "By focusing our resources on the most egregious offenders, we immediately improve public safety."

Sixteen of the arrests were made in Rockford; one arrest was made in Loves Park, Illinois.

The Winnebago County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office and the Loves Park (Illinois) Police Department assisted in this operation.

In fiscal year 2013, ICE conducted 315,943 removals nationwide. Eighty-five percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.

ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security.