[migrawatch-public] ICE raids in Dallas-Ft. Worth

TX: ICE arrests more than 270 in Dallas-Fort Worth area this week

ICE arrests more than 270 in Dallas-Fort Worth area this week
By ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press July 20, 2007, 5:18PM

DALLAS — Federal agents arrested 274 illegal immigrants over five days
during raids in Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding suburbs, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Friday.

Authorities took into custody 233 men, 28 women and 13 children, said
ICE spokesman Carl Rusnok.

The operation, which began Monday and ended Friday, yielded illegal
immigrants, people wanted by immigration authorities and immigrants with
criminal records. Of the 274 arrested, 99 had criminal convictions, ICE
said.

"These operations are a critical element in removing threats to public
safety," said Nuria T. Prendes, field office director for ICE's Office
of Detention and Removal Operations.

Most of the arrests happened at homes. Some of those taken into custody
weren't the targets of the operation but they were in the homes and were
found to be in the country illegally, Prendes said.

"Many of these individuals are in the wrong place at the wrong time,
many live together," she said.

Police in Dallas, Irving, Fort Worth, Arlington, Farmers Branch,
Carrollton and Blue Mound along with the Dallas County constable, helped
agents in the operation, according to an ICE statement.

Authorities detained people from Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nigeria, Romania and South
Korea. Half of the 274 arrested have already been returned to Mexico,
and the others were awaiting deportation proceedings, ICE said.

The minors taken into custody could have left voluntarily if they were
from Mexico or released to a guardian, ICE officials said. Unaccompanied
minors would be turned over to the custody of the Office of Refugee
Resettlement.

ICE has two fugitive apprehension teams in the area that regularly
target people who can be deported, officials said.

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