/ Modified feb 13, 2017 4:48 p.m.

680 Arrested In Immigration Roundups Across The Country

DHS secretary said 75% had been convicted of a list of prioritized crimes.

John Kelly DHS official hero Official portrait of Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly
Department of Homeland Security

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Monday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 680 people last week in targeted roundups across the country.

The DHS secretary wrote in a statement that 75 percent of those 680 people arrested were immigrants convicted of a crime like sexual abuse, homicide, drug trafficking, drunken driving and weapons charges.

The roundups took place throughout the country stemming from operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and New York City. Kelly added that last week’s targeted enforcement throughout the country was consistent with ICE’s ongoing fugitive tracking operations.

He also said that President Donald Trump directed DHS to focus on removing undocumented immigrants who violated immigration laws and to focus on those posing a public threat, committed immigration violations or had already been deported and re-entered the country illegally.

Fronteras Desk
This story is from the Fronteras Desk, a collaboration of Southwestern public radio stations, including NPR 89.1. Read more from the Fronteras Desk.
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