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Of the 75 fugitives arrested, 26 had criminal records. During the operation an additional 44 immigration violators were arrested, 12 of whom had criminal histories.

An immigration fugitive is an alien who has failed to depart the United States pursuant to a final order of removal, deportation or exclusion; or who has failed to report to a Detention and Removal Officer after receiving notice to do so. . Those fugitives have already been ordered deported and are subject to immediate removal from the United States. The individuals who have illegally re-entered the U.S. after deportation are subject to criminal prosecution and immediate removal from the U.S. The other immigration violators arrested during this operation who have not already been ordered removed, have been charged with immigration violations and placed into removal proceedings. They await hearings before an immigration judge.

"ICE is committed to protecting the integrity of our immigration system and that means ensuring that the removal orders handed down by the nation's immigration courts are carried out," said Thomas Decker, field officer director for ICE detention and removal operations in Philadelphia. "The United States welcomes 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."

ICE Detention and Removal Operations and Office of Investigations worked in conjunction with the U.S. Border Patrol in Erie, PA, Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Warrant Squad, Hatfield Police Department, Horsham Police Department, Norristown Police Department and Altoona Police Department during this targeted enforcement operation.

"In today's society it is important for all law enforcement agencies to work together," said Robert H. Ruxton, Chief of Police for Horsham Township, Pennsylvania. "The ability to share information and work together makes our nation a safer place."

Following are examples of fugitive aliens arrested by the Philadelphia Fugitive Operations Teams during this operation:

A Salvadoran male who was arrested in Milford, Delaware and had been charged with Offensive Touching, Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was convicted of Conspiracy 2nd Degree.

A Mexican male was arrested in Coatesville, Pennsylvania for Narcotics Violations. He was convicted of a violation of the Controlled Substance and Cosmetic Act.

A Mauritanian national, convicted in London, Ohio for Failure to pay Child Support and convicted in Weehawken, NJ for Trademark Counterfeiting.

An Indonesian female who was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Department and charged with six felony counts of Forgery; Criminal Conspiracy; Theft by Unlawful Taking; Theft by Deception; Receiving Stolen Property; Access Device Used to Obtain Property. She was wanted by the Philadelphia Warrant Squad for failure to appear, and was turned over to them on their outstanding warrant. 

PHOENIX - A Mexican citizen with an extensive criminal history was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after a prior deportation.

Victor Manuel Perez-Monroy, 51, was sentenced August 5 to 70 months in prison. Perez-Monroy was arrested on local charges in September 2007 by the Phoenix Police Department. Perez-Monroy, who was deported to Mexico through Nogales, Ariz., in December 2002, has an extensive criminal history in Arizona, including three convictions for burglary./p>

Perez-Monroy was identified for prosecution by a special Prosecutions Unit in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention and Removal Operation's Phoenix Field Office, which was established last spring to review criminal and fugitive alien cases for federal prosecution. This week alone the Unit identified 23 cases that were accepted for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"A criminal alien who is serving time in federal prison is not going to be out victimizing our communities," said Katrina S. Kane, field office director for ICE detention and removal operations in Arizona. "What's more, felony immigration prosecutions send a strong message to those who might be considering re-entering the country after a deportation that there will be serious consequences for their actions."

The heightened focus on re-entry prosecutions is part of the Department of Homeland Security's multi-year plan to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration. That strategy seeks to gain operational control of both the northern and southern borders, while re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from the country quickly and efficiently.

MIAMI - A 30-year-old man wanted by the Spanish government for murder and drug trafficking was deported last night to Spain by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers.

Sergio Lopez-Martinez, a Spanish national, was removed without incident and turned over to Spanish INTERPOL agents who were waiting for him at the Madrid Barajas Airport in Spain.

Lopez-Martinez was allegedly involved in a shooting on Nov. 9, 2006 at Orrius and La Roca del Valles in Barcelona, Spain. He is alleged to have acted in concert in the fatal shooting of Jose Fort Caballe. On May 14, 2007, the judicial district of Barcelona issued an arrest warrant for Lopez-Martinez for the offenses of murder and drug trafficking.

"Apprehending dangerous foreign fugitives hiding in the United States is a top priority of ICE and our international law enforcement partners, including European Union authorities and INTERPOL," said Michael Rozos, field office director for the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations in Florida. "It is in the interest of public safety and justice around the world to capture and return wanted fugitives to their native countries to face justice."

ICE received information from the U.S. National Central Bureau of INTERPOL that Lopez-Martinez might be living in Miami. ICE deportation officers, working closely the U.S. and Spanish INTERPOL offices and the Miami Beach Police Department, subsequently launched an intensive investigation to locate the suspect.

Further investigation revealed that Lopez-Martinez had entered the United States on Feb. 17, 2007 under the Visa Waiver Program with authorization to remain in the country for a period of time not to exceed May 16, 2007. Lopez-Martinez remained in the United States beyond his period of admission in violation of law.

On July 3, 2008, he was arrested without incident by ICE fugitive operations deportation officers at his residence located at 7125 Bay Drive in Miami Beach. He was subsequently processed for removal under the provisions of Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and held in ICE custody pending his removal.

ICE fugitive operations team arrest more than 60 fugitives and immigration violators in Lee and Collier County

FT. MYERS, Fla. - Sixty-two immigration fugitives and immigration violators including six gang members were arrested in Lee County following a five-day law enforcement operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Florida Fugitive operations teams, the Lee County Sheriff's Office and the Collier County Sheriff's Office. This enforcement effort focused on fugitives residing in Lee County.

During the five-day operation, which concluded Friday, ICE detention and removal officers and Lee and Collier County Sheriff's officers arrested 55 fugitives and seven immigration violators. Fifteen of those arrested had criminal histories that spanned from aggravated assault, battery, DUI, DUI hit and run, resisting officer without violence, burglary, weapons offenses, cocaine possession and larceny.

"The removal of illegal aliens, especially those with a criminal history, is one of ICE's top priorities," said Michael Rozos, field office director for the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations in Florida. "We will continue using all our resources to ensure that removal orders are carried out. I want to thank the Lee and Collier County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in locating and apprehending these immigration violators who potentially pose a threat to public safety."

An immigration fugitive is someone who has ignored a final order of deportation. Those fugitives have already been ordered deported and are subject to immediate removal from the United States. The individuals who have illegally re-entered the U.S. after deportation are also subject to immediate removal from the U.S. The other immigration violators arrested during this operation who have not already been ordered removed, have been charged with immigration violations and placed into removal proceedings. They await hearings before an immigration judge.

"As always and with all crimes, we at the Sheriff's Office stand ready to partner with our law enforcement counterparts in the interest of a safer community," said Sheriff Michael J. Scott of the Lee County Sheriff's Office. "Our community is much better off following this successful operation, and we pledge our continued support for the eviction of criminal aliens and secured, Federal borders."

"This operation was a successful collaboration that benefited all of Southwest Florida," said Sheriff Don Hunter of the Collier County Sheriff's Office. "The Collier County Sheriff's Office, the Lee County Sheriff's Office and ICE worked together to bring about the expeditious removal of foreign nationals who are here illegally and are committing crimes. It has already proven to have a positive impact on crime in Collier County."

Among those arrested in the Collier and Lee County area included:

Luis Antonio Zaragoza-Alcocer, 20, a Mexican national, who entered the United States at an unknown location and unknown date without inspection. He admitted to being illegally in the United States and was processed and served a Notice to Appear on July 30, 2008. Zaragoza-Alcocer admitted to being an active member of the SUR 13 gang in Fort Myers, Florida. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
 
Pedro Martinez, 21, a Mexican national, who entered the United States at an unknown location and unknown date without inspection. Martinez admitted to being illegally in the United States and was processed and served a notice to appear on July 30, 2008. He has criminal convictions for two counts of resisting officer without violence and trespassing. He admitted to being an active member of the SUR 13 gang in Fort Myers, Florida. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
 
Diego Leon Preciado-Cifuentes, 43, a Colombian national, who entered the United States in New York City on March 30, 1969 as an immigrant. Due to his criminal convictions, he was placed in immigration proceedings and ordered removed by an immigration judge on May 7, 1997. Preciado-Cifuentes filed and appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals which was dismissed on May 21, 1998. He has convictions for two counts of driving under the influence, burglary, resisting an officer and carrying a concealed weapon. Preciado-Cifuentes will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the U.S.
 
The Fugitive Operations Program was established in 2003 to eliminate the nation's backlog of immigration fugitives and ensure that deportation orders handed down by immigration judges are enforced. Last year, the nation's fugitive alien population showed its first-ever decline. Estimates now place the number of immigration fugitives in the United States at 572,000, a decrease of more than 60,000 since October 2006.

Much of the credit for those results can be attributed to the rapid expansion of the program. Today, ICE has 90 Fugitive Operations Teams deployed across the country. Due to the success of the fugitive operations effort, Congress authorized ICE to add 29 more Fugitive Operation Teams in fiscal year 2008. Locally, the ICE Florida field office has seven operational teams and two additional teams will be deployed within the next month.

Those arrested represent countries around the globe including Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Jamaica, Argentina, Bahamas and Russia.
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ICE's Fugitive Operations Program is an integral part of the comprehensive multi-year plan launched by the Department of Homeland Security to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration. That strategy seeks to gain operational control of both the northern and southern borders, while re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from the country quickly and efficiently. The plan also involves strong interior enforcement efforts, including enhanced worksite enforcement and intensified efforts to track down and remove illegal aliens inside the United States.
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The National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP) was established in 2003 to eliminate the nation's backlog of immigration fugitives. Today, ICE has 95 teams deployed across the country and 9 additional teams will be added by the end of September. So far this year ICE's NFOP has made nearly 28,000 arrests, with over 21,000 being ICE fugitives. Last year, the fugitive operations teams nearly doubled the number of arrests made in 2006 (15,000) to more than 30,000 in 2007. Additionally, in 2007, the nation's fugitive alien population declined for the first time in history and continues to do so in large part due to the work of the fugitive operations teams and our Fugitive Operations Support Center, which helps to clear outstanding cases. Estimates now place the number of immigration fugitives in the United States at approximately 570,000, a decrease of nearly 25,000 since October 2007.