"ICE is focused on removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.
In Fiscal Year 2017, 92 percent of all aliens arrested by ICE had criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, were an immigration fugitive, or were an illegal re-entrant. However, ICE no longer exempts classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention, and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.
ICE deportation officers do not conduct sweeps or raids that target aliens indiscriminately. ICE's enforcement actions are targeted and lead driven. ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy. During targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE."
Last June, ICE ran a similar operation in metro Detroit to collect and deport Iraqi Chaldeans. (That came after many local Chaldean leaders and residents supported Trump.)
(Kara Frank is an Metro Times summer intern. MT intern Jacob Stocking contributed to this story.)
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