7 deported from Central Coast in aftermath of ICE raids

UPDATE 7/11/2017 10:12 a.m. The Department of Justice released new deportation numbers to KION, detailing The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation here on the Central Coast.

The DOJ said of the 25 people arrested during ICE raids in June, seven have been deported, 15 are in jail at Rio Cosumnes Correction Center, Contra Costa Jail, or Yuba County Jail.

Only three people were released from custody.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is releasing more information about its Central California operation including the arrest of more than 50 undocumented immigrants. More than 20 people were arrested on the Central Coast.

According to James Schwab, spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 54 people were taken into custody during a five day operation this week. 25 people were arrested between Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. ICE was targeting wanted criminals, illegal re-entrants and immigration fugitives.

ICE said more than 83 percent of those arrested had prior criminal convictions including DUI, cruelty to a child, drug offenses, obstructing justice, domestic violence, burglary, sex crimes and weapons violations.

19 arrests happened in Monterey County and 6 in Santa Cruz County.

A Salvadoran national with a final order of removal arrested in King City has prior convictions for felony child abuse and spousal battery.

“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers identify, arrest, and remove aliens who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, as well as those who enter the United States illegally or otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration laws and our border control efforts,” said David Jennings, field office director for ERO in San Francisco. “Operations like this that target and arrest convicted criminals and other immigration fugitives make our communities safer for everyone.”

The arrestees included 52 men and two women who are nationals from two countries, Mexico (53) and El Salvador (1).

CITY ARREST TOTALS:

King City-7

Greenfield-6

Salinas-4

Santa Cruz-3

Watsonville-3

Soledad- 2

ICE officers were in Greenfield on Friday, where six people were detained. The Greenfield Police Department said it was notified as officers got to town. They, like other local law enforcement agencies, did not participate in the sweeps. They say despite the operation, people documented or not, should not be afraid to report crimes.

“It is not our job to enforce immigration laws and they should have no concern in contacting the police department and reporting crimes or any other reason that they have to contact the police department,” acting Greenfield Police Chief Tony Sollecito said. “They should have no concerns about their immigration status at that point.”

Some of the people arrested could face federal charges for coming back to the United States after deportation. Those who will not be prosecuted will be deported, along with those who have outstanding deportation orders.

ICE said during operations like these, they come across other people who may be in the U.S. illegally. Those individuals are evaluated on a case by case basis, and when appropriate, are arrested by ICE.

ICE officials released this in a statement:

Since President Trump signed the Executive Orders (EOs) regarding immigration enforcement priorities, ICE has arrested more than 41,000 individuals nationwide who are either known or suspected of being in the country illegally, a nearly 40 percent increase over the same period in 2016. Almost 75 percent of those arrested during this period in 2017 are convicted criminals, with offenses ranging from homicide and assault to sexual abuse and drug-related charges.