US customs officials arrested more than 2,000 illegal immigrants, gang members and other fugitives in a nationwide sweep, the head of the US Immigration and Customer Enforcement agency said today.
The sweep, code named "Operation Return to Sender," has yielded arrests in 34 states since May 26th and comes as the US Congress is debating several immigration measures, including proposals that would tighten border security and create a temporary worker program.
About half of the 2,179 people arrested in the operation had criminal records, and 367 were members or associates of violent street gangs, Julie Myers, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for ICE told a press conference.
"America's welcome does not extend to immigrants who come here to commit crimes," Ms Myers said. Others arrested included 146 who had convictions for sexual offenses involving minors, and 640 were fugitive aliens who had been issued final orders of removal by an immigration judge and had not complied.
About 829 of those arrested on immigration violations have been deported to their home countries.