US: Over 100 illegal immigrants, including Indians, detained by border-officials
Over 100 people, including some Indians, have been detained by the US Border Patrol and Immigration officials in separate enforcement actions for illegally entering and living in the United States. Federal Officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 45 people in the Houston area for violating US immigration laws during a five-day enforcement action. Here's more.
Other arrestees are from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba
ICE did not give the total number of Indian nationals arrested during the operation. Individuals arrested during this operation included nationals from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, Nigeria, India, Chile, and Turkey, the federal agency said in a statement. The local enforcement operation targeted at-large criminal aliens, many of whom had absconded from prior immigration proceedings, it said.
Some detainees will face federal criminal prosecution
ICE said some of the individuals arrested will face federal criminal prosecution for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after deportation. Arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted, will be detained in ICE custody and administratively processed for removal from the US, it said.
78 illegal aliens found inside locked refrigerated trailer last week
Last week, US Border Patrol agents discovered 78 illegal aliens inside a locked refrigerated trailer at a checkpoint in Texas. The individuals were found in good health and belonged to the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Brazil, Ecuador, India, and the Dominican Republic. "These criminal organizations view these individuals as mere commodities without regard for their safety," an official said.
Will continue to dismantle such organizations: Acting Chief Patrol Agent
"The blatant disregard for human life will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these criminal organizations and prosecute those responsible," said Acting Chief Patrol Agent (Laredo Sector) Jason Owens.
Trump's zero immigration policy had sparked widespread controversy
Earlier, nearly 100 Indians, mostly from Punjab, were detained at two immigration detention centers for illegally entering America through the US-Mexico border. President Donald Trump had reversed his controversial decision on immigration by signing an executive order to end the separation of immigrant families on the US-Mexico border, following widespread protests against the move to separate children from their parents who illegally enter America.
