In a sweeping 12-day operation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has arrested more than 200 illegal immigrants who have convictions for drug trafficking or multiple drug possessions.
The agency said that it has collared 216 illegal migrants from 30 different foreign locations who were dealing in hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs.
The nationwide operation took place from March 11 through March 22 and covered 25 different jurisdictions, including major cities such as Boston, Seattle and Washington D.C.
Of the 216 taken into custody, 36 have been deported, while the remainder are all expected to be booted out of the country in the near future, Acting ICE Director P.J. Lechleitner said in a press briefing.
“This operation enabled us to do what ERO’s (Enforcement and Removal Operations) were created to do, and that is focus on smart and effective immigration enforcement to protect our homeland by arresting and removing people who undermine public safety and violate the integrity of our immigration laws,” Lechleitner said.
Lechleitner said that nearly 420 non-citizens were identified in the operation, and those not yet apprehended are still wanted by ICE.
