SEATTLE: Two murder suspects and a convicted child molester were among 59 foreign nationals arrested in Washington State during a nationwide operation, US immigration announced.
The five-day operation last week led to over 2,000 arrests across the country. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeted those considered dangerous and a high priority to be deported.
“This nationwide operation led to the apprehension of more than 2,000 convicted criminal aliens who pose the greatest risk to our public safety,” said Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas
A Mexican couple living in Yakima were among those arrested. The couple were wanted by Interpol and Mexican authorities for a 1998 homicide in that country, according to ICE.
A Mexican man convicted in 2005 of a sexual assault of a child was also arrested. He was living in Marysville.
Over half of those arrested in Washington were convicted of a felony.
More than 1,000 of those arrested nationwide have felony convictions including manslaughter, rape, child pornography, robbery and kidnapping, said ICE.
Nearly 500 of those arrested had been removed from the US in the past only to return. 163 of those face federal charges that could land them in prison for up to 20 years.
