Nineteen alleged gangmembers have been arrested in an investigation of illegal immigrants withcriminal records conducted by Department of Homeland Security agents andAnaheim police.
The arrests last week of the Mexican nationals capped a two-month probe that ispart of a continuing nationwide effort to deport illegal immigrants who aregang members with criminal records. Most investigations are done with the helpof local law enforcement officials, and this was the first such joint operationin Orange County.
The national investigation began in February 2005 and has netted 2,388 arrests,said officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an investigative armof the Department of Homeland Security.
Anaheim Police Chief John Welter said those arrested locally this week, whorange in age from 20 to 42, belonged to four street gangs that claim turf inthe city.
Welter tried to reassure his city’s immigrant community by stressing that thearrests were not a sign that Anaheim officers would be enforcing immigrationlaws.
"We recognize the delicate balance that must be maintained between thepolice and the community," said Welter. "We recognize that sometimesworking with ICE can be a challenge to that delicate relationship."
Local police enforcement of federal immigration laws has emerged as a sensitiveissue in Orange County. Costa Mesa city officials and Sheriff Michael S. Caronawant ICE to train some officers and deputies to enforce immigration laws. SomeLatino leaders and law enforcement officials say the move could frightenillegal immigrants and stop them from reporting crimes or cooperating withauthorities in investigations.
Four of the men arrested — Roberto C. Abundes, 27, Roberto Arrellano Morales,35, Jose Avalos, 33, and Jaime Vasquez, 25 — had previously been deported andwill be prosecuted in U.S. District Court. They face up to 20 years in prisonif convicted of reentering the United States illegally — a felony.
Source: LA Times, Mar. 11, 2006
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