BUFFALO, United States (CMC) – Caribbean nationals were among 133 illegal immigrants apprehended during an enhanced targeted enforcement operation focusing on criminal illegal immigration offenders and other immigration violators in western, central and northern New York in the United States.

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency said that nationals from the Trinidad and Tobago and the Dominican Republic were among Caribbean immigrants arrested in the operation that spanned March 24 to 28.

ICE said among those arrested during the enhanced targeted operation were a 49-year-old illegal immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago convicted of murder; a 66-year-old illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic convicted of course sexual conduct with a child; and a 70-year-old illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic convicted of manslaughter and criminal sale of controlled substance.

“By leveraging our federal partnerships and intelligence-driven investigations, ICE continues to carry out its mission in a way that best serves national security, public safety and border security,” said Philip Rhoney, acting deputy field office director, ICE enforcement and removal operations in Buffalo.

“I am grateful for the professionalism, dedication and support from all of our partners during this week-long operation to remove dangerous alien offenders from our New York communities,” he added.

ICE said while it and US federal partners concentrated their efforts in and around the Buffalo, New York area, the operations extended throughout western and upstate New York.

Operations led to the arrest of 84 illegal immigrants from the Buffalo and Rochester areas, and 49 illegal aliens from Syracuse, Albany, Rouses Point, and Massena, ICE said.

“The success of this enhanced enforcement operation underscores the importance of utilising a whole-of-government approach when protecting the public from criminal aliens and dangerous individuals living in our western, central, and northern New York communities,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Special Agent in Charge, Erin Keegan.

ICE said of those arrested, 20 had criminal convictions or charges, including three who were convicted for murder.

Nine of the arrests were of immigrants who had been previously removed from the United States, ICE said.