The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that 102 criminal aliens were arrested last week in Colorado and Wyoming by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The seven-day “Cross Check” operation — conducted in all 50 states and four U.S. territories — arrested a total of 2,901 aliens, all of which had one or multiple prior criminal convictions.
The operation was spearheaded by ICE’s National Fugitive Operations Program which is responsible for locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives.
“Targeting and removing criminal aliens from the streets supports public safety,” said Jeffrey Lynch, acting field office director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Denver. “This was an extremely successful local and national operation, but our teams also pursue criminal aliens throughout the year.”
In Colorado, 39 were arrested in Denver, 13 in Aurora, 10 in Greeley, five in Englewood and four in Colorado Springs.
This operation was the largest of its kind ever executed. The first Cross Check operation was conducted in December 2009.
“The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE’s ongoing commitment and focus on the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and those that game our nation’s immigration system,” said ICE Director John Morton. “Because of the tireless efforts and teamwork of ICE officers and agents in tracking down at-large criminal aliens and fugitives, there are 2,901 fewer criminal aliens in our neighborhoods across the country.”
Weston Gentry: 303-954-1054 or wgentry@denverpost.com
