SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers arrested 84 people in San Diego suspected of violating immigration laws, the agency said in a news release Monday.
The arrests were made after a two-week enforcement sting that ended Friday. 70 men and 14 women were taken into custody.
“Those arrests reflect the vital work ERO [Enforcement and Removal Operations] officers do every day to protect the nation, uphold public safety and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls,” said ICE field office director Greg Archambeault.
25 of those arrested were convicted criminals who had been ordered to leave the United States and failed to do so, or had been previously deported and returned illegally, officials said. Some of the criminal convictions included serious offenses such as child sex crimes, weapons and assault charges, and other convictions for multiple misdemeanors.
Three of those arrested during this operation will face federal charges for illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation.
ICE officials said several public safety targets remain at large in the San Diego County area. Those who are wanted include a known associate of the Logan Heights street gang who was convicted of battery, drug possession, and burglary, and a convicted drug trafficker.
“We will continue our efforts targeting public safety threats linked to immigration violators, while seeking to ultimately deport at-large criminal targets and other immigration fugitives who pose a threat to our communities,” said Archambeault.
