LLOYD DOGGETT - WASHINGTON OFFICE: 35TH DISTRICT. TEXAS COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES RANKING MEMBER 2307 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 (202) 225?4865 DISTRICT OFFICES: 2?17 TRAVIS of the tantra] ?aw; TAX POLICY . (210) 704-1080 SUBCOMMITTEE ON iauu?t Dr REDFES Entatlnz? 300 EAST 8TH STREET, SUITE 763 TRADE A ,Tx 78701 FacebOOk.com/LondDoggett January 26, 2018 The Honorable Kirstj en M. Nielsen The Honorable Thomas D. Homan Secretary Deputy Director and Senior Of?cial Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement 300 7th Street, SW 500 12th Street, SW Washington, DC. 20024 Washington, DC. 20536 Dear Secretary Nielsen and Deputy Director Homan: Representing communities from Austin to San Antonio, I write to request information regarding the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in February 2017. Following media and community reports of largescale arrests, I asked ICE for the number of those arrested in the Central South Texas area and their criminal history, if any. ICE provided a ?Fact Sheet? claiming that total of 28 foreign nationals were arrested this week.? (See Attachment 1) A second ?Fact Sheet? increased the number, claiming that total of 51 foreign nationals were arrested this week.? (See Attachment 2) To this day, the ICE website links to the document claiming 51 arrests. (See Attachment 3) In fact, neither number is accurate. Now, a Freedom of Information Act request reveals that 132 people were arrested in ICE raids in the Central South Texas area from February 9-12, 2017. The information previously provided to my of?ce and publicly was selective and deceptive. It included February 9-10, but arbitrarily excluded those arrested during larger raids on Saturday and Sunday, February 11-12. Therefore, in order to better understand the scope of these large raids, please provide the following: 1. The total number of arrested individuals in this area (San Antonio to Austin) from February 9-12, 2017. 2. For each arrested individual, provide a detailed list all prior convictions, if any. Note if no convictions. Note if only immigration-related conviction. Specify the city where each arrest occurred. 3. For each arrested individual, state whether they were targeted. 4. Since February 12, 2017, how many individuals have been arrested in this area with no prior criminal conviction? PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 5. Since February 12, 2017, how many individuals have been arrested in this area whose only prior conviction was immigration related? Other cities were also targeted, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York City. As it relates to these other cities, did ICE ?Fact Sheets? exclude those arrested on February 11-12, 2017? Finally, on February 13, 2017, then Secretary John F. Kelly announced that the nationwide enforcement actions ?last week? were a part of targeted enforcement operations that arrested ?more than 680 individuals.? Does this number include arrests on February 11-12? If not, what is the total once those dates are included? I look forward to your timely response. Sincerely, $.11?.ch Lloyd Doggett O?ice ofPubh'c A?airs U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 28 arrested in San Antonio-area ICE operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives A total of 28 foreign nationals were arrested this week in San Antonio and the surrounding areas during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens. Sixteen of the 28 had criminal convictions. Arrests included: 0 A citizen of Mexico previously removed ?'om the United States, who was convicted of aggravated assault. 0 A citizen of El Salvador who pled guilty to the sexual assault of a child 0 A citizen of Mexico convicted of domestic violence charges as a repeat offender The statistics cover the entirety of the agency?s fugitive operations arrests in San Antonio and s?rrounding areas from Thursday through Friday. 0 This week?s enforcement operations were conducted in accordance with routine, daily targeted operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive operations teams every day to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation?s immigration laws. 0 ICE deportation of?cers conduct targeted enforcement operations every day in locations around the country as part of the agency?s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls. 0 These are existing, established fugitive operations teams. ICE does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately. This operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, and individuals who have violated our nation?s immigration laws, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration ?igitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges. 0 Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face criminal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney?s Of?ce for illegal re-entry after deportation. 0 Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to possible removal from the country. AttaChment 1 wwchegov 0 Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support. 0 During targeted enforcement operations ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in Violation of federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE. ICE US. Immigration and Customs En?ircement is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is a 21? century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit: To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347?2423. O?ice of Public Affairs U.S. Department of Homeland Security )1 U.S. Immigration and Custon'ls Enforcement Fact Sheet 51 arrested in San Antonio-area ICE operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives A total of 51 foreign nationals were arrested this week in San Antonio and the surrounding areas during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens. - Of the 51, 23 had criminal convictions. Arrests included: 0 A citizen of Mexico previously removed from the United States, who was convicted of aggravated assault. a A citizen of El Salvador who pled guilty to the sexual assault of a child 0 A citizen of Mexico convicted of domestic violence charges as a repeat offender The statistics cover the entirety of the agency?s fugitive operations arrests in San Antonio and surrounding areas from Thursday through Friday. 0 This week?s enforcement operations were conducted in aCcordance with routine, daily targeted operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive operations teams every day to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation?s immigration laws. 0 ICE deportation of?cers conduct targeted enforcement operations every day in locations around the country as part of the agency?s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls. 0 These are existing, established fugitive operations teams. ICE does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately. This operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, and individuals who have violated our nation?s immigration laws, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges. I Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face criminal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney?s Of?ce for illegal re-entry a?er deportation. 0 Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to possible removal from the country. Attachment 2 0 Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support. 0 During targeted enforcement operations ICE of?cers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE. ICE US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is a 21?" century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit: wwaCE. gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-34 7-2423. - - - 1" 1- >taten1en: rrum secretary Ix . ICE NEWS-1 00111 News Releases SHARE TOP STORY STATEMFNT Related Information -2 132C117 Statement from Secretary Kelly on recent ICE Media '?qmries (?13 :4 enforcement actions For media inquiries about this release, call (202) 282-8010 For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Of?ce oi Public Affairs at (202) 732-4242. Photos available on DVIDS Brett available 6) Sign up to receive News Releases SIN Last week and Gusto 11113 Enforcement ?tCE?z' 1811111: rec? a 51507 . rcei11er'tet1erat'onsacressthe 1111111111: These or .eiations Iargeteil pub? 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CI a19.15.0113 and .hose 1.1.1110 ptO?lltleiJ a:srstance 1.10111 meland Sec .0, 1.11111,- Investigations the-'1 Ian-.113 Senses-r sit as Cuoceratli. state and local law entorcen 113 nt Iagenc es These area-35516115 put :1'1'e5 31'. the line to pretect our ccmmunrtres and "1111.111. There is 110 greater calimg than 11: serve and pro 051 :10111' nation . a 11115 31011. that ll1er 111.5111. of tilt: cen?onn 11.11111. Droiessn alrsm and C0 .1111ch ere 111 single day Fact Sheets Operations 1.90 ariesterl in Georgia the riurrng rut] 1.1pe1c1110111arget111g criminal alums :ilegai re entrants- and 1111m1grat10n iligitives 73.5 arr?Aster} :n Midwestern states during 1121-" operation targetinnI r1111111a rile-11a: entrants and inunrgratiriri fugitives i. Hit? arrests 161 1010.1. mineles area operation targeting 1:11111111al aiierrs Illegal re entrants and immigration lugrlives 11 argesteri 111 N111, Vork area operation targeting dilEElh illegal re entrants and immigralier'i lliqitives ?11 arrested 111 5.111 Antonin,- area 11.21 onerairon targeting 1:111111nal aliens entrants 11111! irIinirgratirm itrgitwes 111-..- Iii..i.i:r:.i 11' Attachment 3