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44 arrested in operation targeting criminal aliens
Updated: October 24, 2012 10:09PM
A five-day operation targeting criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators culminated in the arrests of 44 people in Chicago and the suburbs.
Arrests were made in Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Glenview, Highwood, Morton Grove, Mundelein and Park Ridge as well as other suburbs. Chicago had the most arrests with 14.
Of the 44 arrested, 33 had been convicted of crimes including cocaine possession, burglary, battery, assault, distributing marijuana, fraud, aggravated DUI and domestic violence, a release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement said.
Eighteen were immigration fugitives who had been ordered to leave the country but failed to depart, and 14 of those are convicted criminals as well. Ten — including five convicted criminals — had been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country, ICE said.
ICE provided a nationality breakdown of the 44 men arrested: Mexico (33), Poland (5), Guatemala (3), Philippines (1), Mongolia (1), Slovakia (1).
The arrests included:
— A 24-year-old Mexican national previously convicted of burglary and sentenced to three years in prison. He was arrested July 14 and officers discovered narcotics. He is currently facing state drug charges and is being held at the Cook County Jail with an immigration detainer.
— A 43-year-old Polish national previously convicted of possessing ecstasy with the intent to deliver. He is wanted by Interpol for crimes regarding a fatal car crash in Poland and was arrested July 17. He remains in ICE custody pending removal to Poland.
