October 1, 2008

Operation Community Shield

Targeting Violent Transnational Street Gangs

Overview:

In February 2005, ICE began Operation Community Shield, a national law enforcement initiative that targets violent transnational street gangs through the use of ICE's broad law enforcement powers, including the unique and powerful authority to remove (deport) criminal aliens, including illegal aliens and legal permanent resident aliens.

Initially, the focus of ICE's efforts were directed toward the Mara Salvatrucha organization, commonly referred to as MS-13, one of the most violent and rapidly growing transnational street gangs.  In May 2005, ICE expanded Operation Community Shield to include all transnational criminal street gangs and prison gangs

During the months of June through September 2008 ICE conducted a coordinated, nationwide summer enforcement action targeting gangs, Operation ICE Surge 2008, which tallied 1,759 arrests of persons with citizenship from 20 different countries.  Arrests were made in 53 cities across 28 states and the District of Columbia.

Operation Community Shield Overall Results:

Since inception through September 26, 2008, ICE agents working in conjunction with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide have arrested a total of 11,106 street gang members and associates.

These apprehensions include 3,997 criminal arrests and 7,109 administrative immigration arrests. 145 of those arrested were gang leaders and 2,018 were MS-13 members or associates. 4,331 of the arrested suspects had violent criminal histories. Through this initiative, ICE has seized 388 firearms.

Under Operation Community Shield, ICE:

• Partners with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, in the United States and abroad, to develop a comprehensive and integrated approach in conducting criminal investigations and other law enforcement operations against violent street gangs and others who pose a threat to public safety.
• Identifies violent street gangs and develops intelligence on their membership, associates, criminal activities and international movements.
• Deters, disrupts and dismantles gang operations by tracing and seizing cash, weapons and other assets derived from criminal seized activities.
• Seeks prosecution and/or removal of alien gang members from the United States.
• Works closely with our attaché offices throughout Latin America and foreign law enforcement counterparts in gathering intelligence, sharing information and conducting coordinated enforcement operations.       
• Conducts outreach efforts to increase public awareness about the fight against violent street gangs.       

Sample Operation ICE Surge 2008 Enforcement Actions

• In July 2008, office of the special agent in charge, Chicago, Ill. agents arrested the 10,000th known gang member/associate since the inception of Operation Community Shield.  Agents, in conjunction with the ICE Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO)and local law enforcement agencies, arrested Valentin Sierra-Martinez, a documented Nortenos 14 criminal street gang member from the Elgin, Ill. area.  Sierra, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, was turned over to DRO for removal proceedings.  His criminal history includes convictions of residential burglary, domestic battery and knowingly damaging property.
• During two weeks spanning June and July 2008, office of the resident agent in charge, Wichita, Kan. agents conducted an enforcement operation with the Wichita Police Department which resulted in the arrests of 21 gang members for violations including burglary, theft, assault, drive-by shootings, weapons charges and misdemeanor charges.
• June 18-21, 2008, office of the resident agent in charge, Boise, Idaho agents participated in a major local law enforcement operation targeting high profile criminals and gang members dubbed “Street Sweeper”, which resulted in a total of 13 felony arrests, 149 misdemeanor arrests, 33 administrative immigration arrests, 41 probation searches of gang member’s homes, one search warrant execution and 182 contacts with gang members and associates. Numerous weapons were seized including two Molotov Cocktails, one assault rifle, three handguns, two machetes, one knife, and three brass knuckles. Approximately one quarter pound of methamphetamine, one pound of marijuana and thirteen pieces of paraphernalia were also seized.
• June 17-20, 2008, office of the special agent in charge, Newark, N. J. agents, along with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Union City Police Department and West New York Police Department, conducted an enforcement operation in the Hudson County, New Jersey area, which resulted in the arrests of 39 violent gang members.
• On June 18, 2008, office of the special agent in charge, Newark, N. J. agents reported the seizure of a graffiti marked Mexican flag from the New Jersey residence of three members of the La Gran Familia (LGF) street gang.  Subsequent analysis of the graffiti written on the flag revealed several local LGF cliques, including Los Pitufos, Primos Locos, and Winners, along with each cliques’ respective area of illicit gang activity in New Jersey and New York. LGF is a transnational criminal street gang comprised of Mexican nationals suspected of committing auto thefts, robberies, and assaults within the greater Hudson County metropolitan area.
• On June 17, 2008, office of the resident agent in charge, Provo, Utah agents reported the recovery of a 15-year-old female who had been missing for two months.  She was discovered inside an apartment as ICE agents were affecting the arrest of seven members of the criminal street gang Surenos-13.  The girl was reunited with her parents at the scene.  All seven suspects were charged criminally with controlled substance violations and two suspects were charged with harboring a minor.
• In June 2008, office of the special agent in charge, Atlanta, Ga. agents conducted an enhanced gang suppression operation in the metro Atlanta area, in coordination with over 30 local law enforcement agencies, including the Gwinnett County Police Department and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, which resulted in the arrest of 127 gang members and the seizure of two firearms.

Intelligence Gathering and Sharing:

Under Operation Community Shield, ICE has received thousands of names of known and suspected gang members from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as from foreign governments.  This information is routinely compared with ICE's immigration and customs databases to identify and prioritize gang suspects who may be subject to ICE's legal jurisdiction.

ICE's Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) in Vermont plays a central role in this effort by running data on gang suspects provided by other law enforcement agencies against its immigration databases to determine whether these individuals are subject to ICE's federal immigration authorities. This data is then shared with ICE field offices and law enforcement partners to compile target lists.

Fact Sheet
Media Gallery
News Release
Map of Total Arrests by City (PDF | 214 KB)
Watch Video (MPG | 57 MB)

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