ICE to illegals: We'll 'find you and send you home'

13 teams of agents bust more than 900 criminal aliens in California

Posted: May 30, 2008 11:55 pm Eastern
WorldNetDaily

More than 900 illegal aliens have been sent packing after a three-week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in California.

Half of the criminal aliens and fugitives arrested during the statewide sting have already been sent to their home countries. Since a large number of the illegals have faced previous deportation, immigration authorities immediately ousted them from the U.S.

The rest remain in police custody, awaiting travel arrangements for deportation or hearings before an immigration judge.

Brian DeMore, acting field officer director for ICE detention and removal operations in Los Angeles, issued a press release about his team's success.

"ICE is committed to protecting the integrity to this country's immigration system and that means ensuring that the removal orders handed down by the nation's immigration courts are carried out," he said. "As a country, we welcome law-abiding immigrants, but foreign nationals who violate our laws and commit crimes in our communities should be on notice that ICE is going to use all of the tools at its disposal to find you and send you home."

Immigration authorities sought out and detained a total of 905 illegal alien criminals in California – 327 in Los Angeles alone. Of the 327 arrested in L.A., 244 were fugitives aliens who have dodged deportation orders or who have returned to the U.S. after being evicted by authorities. Approximately 25 percent of L.A. illegals in custody have criminal histories, and one person has been convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.