U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took a total of 212 people into custody during a five-day immigration sweep at business sites in southern California this week. In all, ICE officers inspected 122 businesses in a worksite enforcement operation around Los Angeles conducted from last Sunday to Thursday.
Of the 212 immigrants taken into custody, 195 of them were convicted criminals that had been issued final orders of removal and failed to leave the country, or had been previously removed and returned illegally. About 100 of those had been convicted of violent offenses including child sex crimes, weapons violations and assault, as well as serious misdemeanor offenses.
ICE Director Thomas Homan defended the agency’s actions saying that because of Los Angeles’ sanctuary city policies, federal officers are barred from picking up undocumented immigrants from jail, forcing officials to find them at their home, workplace or other places.
ICE conducted about 1,300 of these workplace sweeps in 2017. This year they expect a 300% increase. Companies found to be employing undocumented immigrants could face civil fines or even criminal prosecution.