22 people arrested by ICE agents (Ventura County Star)

22 people arrested by ICE agents
From staff reports
Originally published 05:15 p.m., February 29, 2008
Updated 05:15 p.m., February 29, 2008

Agents from the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 22 people in Ventura County this week as part of a regional operation aimed at criminals in the country illegally and people who have ignored deportation orders, authorities said Friday.

A total of 345 immigration violators were arrested in Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties during the weeklong operation, according to ICE.

Of the 22 arrested in Ventura County, seven had outstanding deportation orders, ICE officials said. Ten had criminal histories in addition to immigration violations.

Arrests occurred in Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark and Newbury Park. Most were early-morning raids at residences, officials said.

Of the 345 arrested across Southern California, 238 had deportation orders and 67 had criminal histories in addition to immigration violations, according to ICE.

The majority of those arrested were from Mexico, but nationals of 16 other countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador and Indonesia, were also detained, officials said.