MIAMI, United States – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it has arrested several Caribbean nationals among 314 criminal immigrants in an enforcement action targeting individuals who pose a threat to public safety.

The immigration agency said those arrested from the Caribbean included nationals from the Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Turks & Caicos Islands, Antigua, and Cuba.

The arrests were made across the state of Florida, during an enforcement action, which concluded on September 29.

ICE said more than one-quarter had criminal records that included felony convictions for serious or violent offences, such as murder, attempted murder, child sex crimes, sex offences, weapons charges, and drug violations.

“As this operation makes clear, ICE is committed to prioritising convicted criminals and those who are public safety threats for apprehension and removal,” said Marc Moore, field office director for the Miami Field Office of ERO, which oversees all of Florida, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.