2189 Illegal Immigrants Nabbed; 800 Deported


NEW JERSEY, JUNE 16 - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended more than 2,100 immigration violators, some from  Pakistan and Bangladesh, in a just-completed nationwide effort. The initiative, called Operation "Return to Sender", began on May 26 and concluded June 13.

Of the 2,179 people arrested, about half had criminal records for crimes including sexual assault, assault with a deadly weapon and abduction.

The majority were arrested for immigration violations.

More than 800 of these people were sent back to their home countries. Those arrested on criminal charges will face trial in federal courts, said Julie L. Myers, assistant secretary for ICE.

The number of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis nabbed and or deported to their home countries remains unknown.

Besides Pakistanis and Bangladeshis who were arrested in the operation, there were  others from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Egypt, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, Thailand, Uganda, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

Operation "Return to Sender" is the latest action taken as part of the Department of Homeland Security's interior immigration enforcement strategy.

"The interior enforcement strategy is part of the Secure Border Initiative, a multiyear plan to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration" said a US. State Department report, according to NewsBlaze.


(DesPardes News Monitor)