Top Stories of 2017

A look at the top ERO, HSI and M&A stories, as determined by overall views by visitors to ICE.gov during the year

INTERPOL, ICE seek public’s help to identify unknown female suspect in child sex abuse and exploitation case In August, ICE HSI, in partnership with INTERPOL Washington and the U.S. National Central Bureau, urged the public to help identify an unknown suspect wanted for questioning in an unsolved case of child abuse and exploitation. When the article was posted investigators had been unable to identify the suspect using traditional means and requested the public’s assistance. The suspect was added to ICE's Operation Predator online application, which allows users to receive alerts about wanted predators, to share the information with friends via email and social media tools, and to provide information to ICE by calling or submitting an online tip.

ICE ERO immigration arrests climb nearly 40% During a 100 day period in 2017, ICE arrested more than 41,000 individuals known or suspected of being in the country illegally. This reflected an increase of 37.6 percent over the same period in 2016. Between Jan. 22 and April 29, 2017, ICE ERO deportation officers administratively arrested 41,318 individuals on civil immigration charges. Between Jan. 24 and April 30, 2016, ERO arrested 30,028.

ICE 'most wanted fugitive' captured in New Jersey ICE ERO Newark Fugitive Operations team arrested an individual on its most wanted list after he was identified leaving his residence. Javier Atlixqueno-Vaquero, 37, is a convicted felon for the crimes of sexual assault with a minor, felony sale of hallucinogen/narcotic controlled substance and felony failure to appear.

ICE arrests over 450 on federal immigration charges during Operation ‘Safe City’ ICE ERO Fugitive Operations teams arrested 498 individuals from 42 countries across the U.S. during Operation ‘Safe City.’ The operation targeted individuals who have violated U.S. immigration laws, prioritizing aliens with criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, known gang members and affiliates, immigration fugitives, and those who re-entered the U.S. after deportation. Individuals with active DACA were not targeted for arrest.

ICE arrests MS-13 gang member released from local custody on an active detainer Officers with ICE ERO arrested Estivan Rafael Marques Velasquez, a self-admitted MS-13 gang member, after he was released from New York City custody with an active ICE detainer in place. "This man is, by his own admission, a member of a violent street gang and was released back into the community. Honoring a detainer request is not about politics, it is about keeping the citizens of New York safe,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York.

ICE removes Dominican national wanted for murder A Dominican national, Martires Molvan-Figeureo, 54, wanted for murder charges, was removed by ICE ERO officers via an ICE Air Operations charter flight. Between Jan. 22 and April 29, 2017, ICE ERO deportation officers administratively arrested 41,318 individuals on civil immigration charges. Between Jan. 24 and April 30, 2016, ERO arrested 30,028.

ICE-led gang surge nets 1,378 arrests nationwide A six-week nationwide anti-gang operation led by ICE HSI concluded in May with 1,378 arrests across the United States. At the time of the operation, it was the largest anti-gang surge ever conducted by ICE HSI. Of the 1,378 total arrested, 1,098 were arrested on federal and/or state criminal charges, including 21 individuals arrested on murder related charges and seven for rape and sexual assault charges. The remaining 280 were arrested on administrative immigration violations. “Gang-related violence and criminal activity present an ongoing challenge for law enforcement everywhere, said ICE Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Thomas Homan. “Our efforts to dismantle gangs are much more effective in areas where partnership with local law enforcement is strongest.”

ICE’s ‘Operation Raging Bull’ nets 267 MS-13 arrests ICE’s ‘Operation Raging Bull’ nets 267 MS-13 arrests DHS and the U.S. Department of Justice announced in November the results of Operation Raging Bull, an ICE-led effort to target and dismantle MS-13. With the support of federal, state, local and international law enforcement partners, Operation Raging Bull culminated in the arrest of 267 in the U.S. and overseas. MS-13 has long been a priority for ICE. The agency is combating the gang with renewed focus and an unprecedented level of cooperation among DHS’s components and domestic and international partners.

ICE OTTP instructor helps save life Jason Gueringer, a firearms programs specialist and tactical instructor with ICE Office of Training and Tactical Programs (OTTP), leapt into action when a man in his class dropped to the ground. He later learned the man suffered a widow-maker heart attack; the survival rate is less than one percent.