17 Arrested in Rockford Area During ICE Operation Targeting Criminals

17 convicted criminal illegal aliens have been arrested during an operation carried out this week in northern Illinois by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

According to a press release, the three-day operation was conducted by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) as part of the agency’s effort to remove individuals previously convicted of a crime from the U.S.

All 17 Mexican males are convicted criminals whose convictions include: aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated drunken driving, domestic battery resulting on bodily harm, battery, carrying a concealed weapon, and drug-related crimes. Two of those arrested have outstanding deportation orders against them; two others were previously deported and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony.

Those arrested during the operation include:

• A 51-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, battery, aggravated DUI, and attempting to obstruct justice. He was arrested May 10 in Rockford and remains in ICE custody pending removal.
• A 31-year-old Mexican national with prior convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, battery, aggravated DUI, and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer. He was arrested May 11 in Rockford and remains in ICE custody pending removal.

Sixteen of the arrests were made in Rockford; one arrest was made in Loves Park. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and the Loves Park Police Department assisted in this operation.