ICE Milwaukee Arrests 16 Mexican Undocumented Immigrants With Criminal Records (Patch.com)

ICE Milwaukee Arrests 16 Mexican Undocumented Immigrants With Criminal Records 

 In 2016, the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted 240,255 removals nationwide. 

By Scott Anderson (Patch Staff) - January 27, 2017 6:51 PM ET

 MILWAUKEE, WI — Sixteen illegal immigrants from Mexico and already convicted of criminal charges were arrested in the Milwaukee area during a two-day operation conducted by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). br />
All 16 arrested are Mexican males. Arrests were made in the following Wisconsin communities: Milwaukee (8), Waukesha (4), and one arrest each in Greenfield, New Berlin, Oconomowoc and Pewaukee. br />
Federal officials reported receiving "significant assistance" during this operation from the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). br />
All 16 arrested during this operation had been convicted of crimes in the United States and fall within ICE’s enforcement priorities. br />
Their convictions include the following crimes: br />
force/assault with a deadly weapon not firearm — gross bodily injury likely receiving stolen property battery grand theft (auto) drug possession with intent to distribute drunk driving Two were previously deported and two have outstanding deportation orders. br />
Following are two of those arrested during the operation: br />
A 50-year-old twice-deported Mexican national with prior felony convictions for force/assault with a deadly weapon not firearm: gross bodily injury likely, battery/police officer, grand theft (auto), and intentionally causing bodily injury to a child-habitual criminal. He has additional convictions for battery and resisting an officer-habitual criminal. He was previously removed to Mexico in 1997 and 2003, and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony. He was arrested Jan. 25 in Waukesha and remains in ICE custody pending removal to Mexico.br />
A 41-year-old Mexican national with prior felony convictions for receiving stolen property and attempted unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested Jan. 25 in Milwaukee and remains in ICE custody pending a hearing before a federal immigration judge. "ICE officers are focused on arresting and removing convicted criminals from our communities," said Ricardo Wong, field office director for ERO Chicago. "When we locate, arrest and remove the most egregious offenders, we immediately improve public safety in the Milwaukee area."br />
All remain in ICE custody, except one individual who was turned over to MCSO on outstanding arrest warrants.br />
In fiscal year 2016, ICE conducted 240,255 removals nationwide. Ninety-two percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense. br />
Milwaukee Sheriff to Pursue Immigration Duties for Deputies br />
The same week federal law enforcement officials partnered with local police, Sheriff Clarke announced his intention to enroll the sheriff's office into the portion of the federal 287G program, which allows local law enforcement officers to be deputized by the federal government to function as immigration officers, helping with investigations and the detention and apprehension of immigrants. br />
"President Trump made it clear with his Executive Order on enforcement of our immigration laws. No more catch and release of criminal illegal aliens," Sheriff Clarke said in a prepared statement. "I will assign as many deputies to this initiative as I can. It is a public safety priority. I will not have a Kate Steinle-type incident happen in Milwaukee County. I am obligated to protect people from criminal illegal aliens as I am from all criminal predators. I cannot be more clear on this."