Suspected illegal immigrant gang members nabbed

Suspected illegal immigrant gang members were among 65 people jailed this week during a multi-agency sweep in five San Diego-area cities, ICE officials said Friday.

The crackdown, part of a four-year-old initiative dubbed Operation Community Shield, took place in Escondido, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos and Vista, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which carried out the sweep with help from local and state law enforcement agencies.

Among the arrestees were 40 members and associates of 19 local street gangs and one Los Angeles-area gang, according to ICE public affairs.

A total of 18 of the suspects face possible state charges for new crimes, including drug offenses and violation of court-ordered gang injunctions. At least 14 face prosecution for allegedly re-entering the United States following deportation, and 26 were arrested on administrative immigration violations and placed in removal proceedings. Similar local sweeps during the summers of 2007 and 2008 resulted in the arrests of more than 140 foreign nationals with ties to street gangs, according to ICE.

Tags: SDNN

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