ICE Arrests 1300 Gang Members

LOCAL AND NATIONAL REPORTS — Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency announced Tuesday they have arrested more than 1,300 gang members who were residing in the country illegally.

ICE agents worked in conjunction with law enforcement organizations in more than 20 major cities. The arrestswere madeduring a three-month nationwide campaign called “Operation Community Shield.”

The operation also marks the first time ICE agents have been used to fight criminal street gangs, authorities said.

“We were picking up a population of people who were not only illegal in that instance, but actually criminal illegals who had committed crimes in the past,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

The suspects in custody will be prosecuted in federal court or deported, Chertoff said.

El Paso was not among the cities involved in the roundup, but local officials have confirmed their agents continue to identify, locate, and arrest criminal undocumented immigrants.

By Kevin Pytcher, ABC 7