Last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its law enforcement partners arrested 284 foreign nationals with criminal records during a three-day enforcement surge throughout Texas, making it the biggest operation targeting at-large criminal aliens ever carried out by ICE in the state. During the massive roundup, ICE officers and agents worked in teams with the U.S. Marshals Service, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and local law enforcement agencies. Of the 284 arrested, about 160 have violent criminal histories, such as homicide, assault and robbery. In addition, more than 20 have convictions for sexual offenses. The special operation involved over 280 federal and local law enforcement officers and agents. Apprehensions in the Dallas/Fort Worth area accounted for the largest number of arrests with 119 criminal aliens taken into custody. San Antonia was the next highest with 73. Those arrested include 259 men and 25 women, representing more than 22 different nations, including Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.    

     John Morton, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary or ICE, said the United States is a compassionate country with a proud history of immigration. “But we are also a nation governed by laws specifically designed to protect its citizens and residents. Those who come to the United States to prey upon our neighbors and communities will be prosecuted for their crimes and ultimately returned to their home countries.” Because of their serious criminal histories and prior immigration arrest records, at least 23 of those arrested during the enforcement surge face federal prosecution for illegally reentering the country after being formally deported.  A conviction for felony reentry carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Sadly, those who enter illegally and are subsequently nabbed, merely face removal back to their country of origin, unless charged with a serious crime while here. In effect, that means that we spend a lot of time and money just to transport transgressors across the border, giving them several more opportunities to reenter illegally until they commit crimes during their stay.