USCIS played a vital role in a recent ICE-led operation that resulted in the arrest of 133 immigration violators across New York. Targeting criminal offenders and prior deportees, the five-day effort showcased increased interagency collaboration to enhance public safety and enforce federal immigration laws more aggressively.
Coordinated Operation Targets Immigration Offenders
An collaborative immigration enforcement effort involving U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and multiple federal law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of 133 violators in New York. From March 24 to 28, the five-day operation was designed to target individuals with criminal records and those illegally in the United States.
The enforcement action was conducted in western, central, and northern New York, particularly on finding and arresting repeat immigration offenders and individuals with prior deportation orders.
Repeat Offenders in Custody and Criminal History
Of the 20 individuals taken into custody, 20 had prior criminal convictions or pending charges. Three of the individuals were previously convicted of murder, highlighting the operation’s focus on high-risk individuals. In addition, nine of the individuals arrested were previously deported from the United States and had re-entered illegally.
Authorities also executed four criminal search warrants during the operation’s worksite enforcement phase. These warrants were tied to federal violations involving the harboring and transportation of undocumented individuals. This operation segment yielded several bookings, document seizures, and 18 additional administrative arrests for immigration violations.
Interagency Cooperation Increases Enforcement
The operation’s success was attributed to the collective efforts of multiple federal partners. Participating agencies included the FBI Buffalo and Albany, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Buffalo, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New York, the U.S. Marshals Service Buffalo, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, USCIS, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western and Northern Districts of New York.
This collaborative method facilitated resource-sharing and leveraged enforcement capacities, particularly at worksite checks and criminal investigations.
Public Safety and Immigration Enforcement
The authorities emphasized that this operation was part of a broader strategy to locate and deport those who pose a threat to communities or who have openly disregarded U.S. immigration procedures.
The operation aimed not only at high-priority offenders but also helped gather substantial records that could be helpful for future investigations or prosecutions involving immigration and labor law cases.
What’s Next?
The multi-agency operation is a reaffirmed pledge to enforce and remove repeat offenders and criminal aliens from U.S. communities. Enforcement efforts like these are projected to continue as federal agencies bridge the seams of cooperation between jurisdictions.
Even if immigration activists are worried about its impact on immigrant communities, enforcement agencies should continue conducting operations aimed at discouraging illegal reentry and workplace crimes. Stakeholders can expect continued pressure to be put on immigration violators, especially those with prior deportations or convictions.
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