In Miami, border patrol officers have detained 18 unauthorized immigrants suspected of various crimes, such as assaults and drug-related offenses, with intentions to deport them.
The individuals, hailing from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, China, Jamaica, and Colombia, were apprehended between July 8 and 11.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) highlighted this recent operation as a move to target “individuals deemed a public safety risk.”
ERO’s Miami Field Office Director, Garrett Ripa, emphasized their focus on efficient immigration enforcement to safeguard Florida residents by apprehending and deporting individuals who violate immigration regulations and endanger community safety.
Several of those detained had breached the Alternatives to Detention program, which employs technology like GPS for monitoring individuals released with specific conditions awaiting immigration or court proceedings.
Some offenders were reportedly involved in offenses like child abuse, assaults, and burglaries while under ATD supervision.
“The ATD program is a privilege, and violations by noncitizens lead to consequences when they break the law,” Ripa added.
One arrestee, a 34-year-old from Honduras, had prior convictions for various offenses like resisting an officer, trespassing, criminal mischief, assault, and burglary.
Another individual, a 41-year-old from Guatemala, faced charges for assault and battery and driving under the influence.
A 55-year-old Jamaican individual was detained for possession of cocaine and narcotic equipment.
Out of the 18 suspects, nine were from Guatemala, with three each from Mexico and Honduras, and one each from China, Jamaica, and Colombia.
While ERO did not disclose comprehensive suspect details, removal procedures were underway, with some potentially facing federal prosecution.
This recent operation in Miami is part of an ongoing effort to target undocumented individuals with criminal records, with ERO also focusing on arresting and removing fugitives wanted for crimes in their home countries.
For instance, in Baltimore on June 20, officers detained a Colombian man wanted for aggravated homicide from the 2010s, while last week, a Mexican man with a history of attempted entry and rape charges in Mexico was deported for the sixth time.
Based on Department of Homeland Security data from 2022, there were 46,396 arrests of noncitizens with criminal backgrounds, tallying over 198,000 alleged offenses among them, often leading to repatriation to their home countries.
Between May 12, 2023, and May 12, 2024, DHS reported over 742,000 removals or returns, the highest annual figure since 2010. Since June, following President Biden’s border crossing restrictions, DHS has conducted 175 repatriation flights, transporting over 50,000 individuals.