The Trump administration has suspended nationwide sweep of about 8,400 illegal immigrant criminals due to the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and ongoing destruction from Hurricane Irma in Florida.
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he U.S. Department of Homeland Security was planning “the largest operation of its kind in the history of (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)” for later this month, but an ICE spokeswoman told NBC News the hurricanes convinced officials to focus instead on relief efforts.
“While we generally do not comment on future potential law enforcement actions, operational plans are subject to change based on a variety of factors,” ICE spokeswoman Sarah Rodriguez wrote in a statement to the news site. “Due to the current weather situation in Florida and other potentially impacted areas, along with the ongoing recovery in Texas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had already reviewed all upcoming operations and has adjusted accordingly. There is currently no coordinated nationwide operation planned at this time.
“The priority in the affected areas should remained focused on life-saving and life-sustaining activities,” she wrote.
ICE was planning nationwide raids starting Sept. 17 through “Operation Mega” to focus mostly on apprehending criminal illegal aliens and gang members, according to an internal memo and two unidentified staffers who spoke with NBC News.
“ICE had been planning the operation internally since mid-August and had instructed officers in the field to target adults deemed to be gang members or perpetrators of serious crimes,” according to the news site.
Rodriguez’ comments also echo those of DHS spokesman Dave Lapan, who confirmed on Thursday that ICE agents would not target illegal immigrants without criminal histories who are fleeing Hurricanes Irma and Harvey.
Elsewhere, ICE is making serious progress removing criminal illegals.
Earlier this week, ICE announced a years-long investigation into an elaborate theft ring targeting high end shopping mass in the San Diego area resulted in the indictment of 22 individuals who allegedly help swindle more than $20 million in merchandise, mostly expensive clothes.
A highly organized criminal enterprise used crews of thieves to steal the clothes from retail stores throughout the U.S. before smuggling the goods across state lines and into Mexico, according to an ICE news release.
In some of the instances, the thieves allegedly used force to fight off loss prevention officers, and in at least one case knocked over an infant in a stroller to avoid capture.
“Homeland Security Investigations, together with its law enforcement partners, has worked tirelessly to investigate and ultimately dismantle this theft ring,” said David Shaw, special agent in charge of HSI San Diego. “Not only does organized retail crime have a major financial impact on businesses and consumers, but the brazen acts allegedly committed by these defendants also posed a very real threat to public safety. HSI is committed to holding individuals involved in this criminal activity accountable for their actions.”
Some of the 22 arrested were previously deported illegal immigrants. Those charged now face between five and 20 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
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