BUFFALO, New York – A Canadian national convicted of felony sexual assault is among the 40 aliens taken into custody last week during a four-day enforcement operation that ended June 21, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, immigration fugitives, and other immigration violators.

This operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, and individuals who have violated the immigration laws of the United States – including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.

Of those arrested in central, western and northern New York state, almost 30 percent had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.

“I commend the brave men and women of ICE who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe in the State of New York,” said Thomas Feeley, field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Buffalo, which covers the 48 county region. “ICE will continue to ensure that New York state will never be a safe haven for criminal aliens.”

Among those arrested during the operation are:

A Mexican national with multiple criminal convictions for inflicting corporal injury on his spouse, three convictions for driving under the influence, three convictions for driving without a license, giving false information to a peace officer, and carrying a loaded firearm in a public place.

A Salvadoran national with criminal convictions for theft, assault and felony sexual assault.

Other cases included individuals with convictions for serious offenses involving: sexual assault, assault, DUI, firearms possession, theft, neglect of a child, larceny, illegal re-entry into the United States, contempt of court and statutory rape.

Seven of the individuals arrested during the enforcement action have been accepted for federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the country. Individuals who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country.

The enforcement actions were conducted in accordance with routine, daily target operations carried out by ICE Fugitive Operations Teams with the intent to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation’s immigration laws. The arrests took place in Albany County (14) Delaware County (3) Erie County (6) Genesee County (3) Lewis County (1) Madison County (1) Monroe County (2) Onondaga County (1) Ontario County (5) Saratoga County (2) Schenectady County (1) and Wayne County (1).

The arrestees (35 men and 5 women) included nationals from 13 countries: Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Somalia and Latvia.

ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement incompliance with federal law and agency policy. ICE no longer exempts classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention, and if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.

During targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis for enforcement action.

Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to removal from the country.