LAREDO, TX – An operation headed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Harlingen field office in Laredo in late September resulted in the apprehension of 28 illegal aliens, with nearly two dozen of the arrestees harboring criminal records ranging from drug offenses to prior murder convictions.
A Justice Department press release outlined the successful arrests carried out during ICE’s Laredo leg of a broader operation dubbed “Operation Pick Off,” which occurred between September 25th and 26th and resulted in 28 illegal aliens being taken into custody, 23 of which harbored prior criminal convictions.
According to officials, one of the 23 individuals who hosted prior convictions illegally reentered the United States after being removed following an 18-year prison sentence carried out in Texas for murder.
Of the remaining criminal illegal aliens, officials say they too were formally removed prior to their illegal reentry, with the near two dozen illegal aliens having served “varying terms of probation following convictions for state crimes, such as drug offenses, human smuggling, fraud, burglary and aggravated assault.”
Operation Pick Off was officially launched this past August within the McAllen and Brownsville areas of Texas and have resulted in over 80 illegal aliens being arrested prior to the Laredo enforcement operation which added another 28 to the ongoing tally.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei issued a statement following the success of the Laredo effort, highlighting the disconnect occurring between the state-ran criminal justice systems across the country and serving the national interests regarding the removal of criminal illegal aliens.
Particularly, Ganjei noted the practice of states placing illegal aliens on probation following criminal convictions to be a practice requiring immediate remedy.
“States normally put offenders on probation or parole to give them a second chance. But when it comes to criminal illegal aliens, our focus should be repatriating them to their home country, rather them letting them walk the streets of our community to commit additional crimes,” Ganjei stated.
"Today’s operation was a win for public safety, but, as I said at the announcement of this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is not going to rest until we bring Pick-Off to all 43 counties of the Southern District of Texas. If you’re here illegally and have committed crimes in our communities, consider yourself warned. We are coming.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Harlingen Field Office Director Juan Agudelo also issued a statement pertaining to the Laredo enforcement effort of Operation Pick Off, emphasizing the net benefit of law enforcement agencies collaborating to achieve a common goal.
“This is what a whole-of-government approach looks like — federal, state and local agencies working together to increase public safety and make our communities safer, one arrest at a time,” Director Agudelo stated.
“We are grateful for the collaborative efforts we saw today. This operation would not be possible without the support and assistance of the law enforcement partners we work with day in and day out to address complex threats facing our nation and achieve a shared goal.”
A Justice Department press release outlined the successful arrests carried out during ICE’s Laredo leg of a broader operation dubbed “Operation Pick Off,” which occurred between September 25th and 26th and resulted in 28 illegal aliens being taken into custody, 23 of which harbored prior criminal convictions.
According to officials, one of the 23 individuals who hosted prior convictions illegally reentered the United States after being removed following an 18-year prison sentence carried out in Texas for murder.
Of the remaining criminal illegal aliens, officials say they too were formally removed prior to their illegal reentry, with the near two dozen illegal aliens having served “varying terms of probation following convictions for state crimes, such as drug offenses, human smuggling, fraud, burglary and aggravated assault.”
Operation Pick Off was officially launched this past August within the McAllen and Brownsville areas of Texas and have resulted in over 80 illegal aliens being arrested prior to the Laredo enforcement operation which added another 28 to the ongoing tally.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei issued a statement following the success of the Laredo effort, highlighting the disconnect occurring between the state-ran criminal justice systems across the country and serving the national interests regarding the removal of criminal illegal aliens.
Particularly, Ganjei noted the practice of states placing illegal aliens on probation following criminal convictions to be a practice requiring immediate remedy.
“States normally put offenders on probation or parole to give them a second chance. But when it comes to criminal illegal aliens, our focus should be repatriating them to their home country, rather them letting them walk the streets of our community to commit additional crimes,” Ganjei stated.
"Today’s operation was a win for public safety, but, as I said at the announcement of this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is not going to rest until we bring Pick-Off to all 43 counties of the Southern District of Texas. If you’re here illegally and have committed crimes in our communities, consider yourself warned. We are coming.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Harlingen Field Office Director Juan Agudelo also issued a statement pertaining to the Laredo enforcement effort of Operation Pick Off, emphasizing the net benefit of law enforcement agencies collaborating to achieve a common goal.
“This is what a whole-of-government approach looks like — federal, state and local agencies working together to increase public safety and make our communities safer, one arrest at a time,” Director Agudelo stated.
“We are grateful for the collaborative efforts we saw today. This operation would not be possible without the support and assistance of the law enforcement partners we work with day in and day out to address complex threats facing our nation and achieve a shared goal.”
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