MIAMI- A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation dubbed "Return to Sender" yielded the arrest of 178 fugitives and immigration status violators during a weeklong detention and removal effort that culminated here Friday.

The arrests came as a result of targeted enforcement actions in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Those arrested represent 18 different nations. Some of those arrested have previous felony convictions for crimes including lewd and lascivious assault, domestic abuse, fraud, and grand theft.

"With every arrest we enhance public safety and restore integrity to our nation's immigration system," said Michael Rozos, field office director for ICE's Office of Detention and Removal in Florida. "Those who are in violation of U.S. immigration laws should not be surprised if they are arrested and deported."

Among those arrested was 33-year-old Hassan Abdulla Hussan Alihussein, of Jordan. Alihussein, who entered the country as a visitor, was ordered removed by an immigration judge on June 2, 2003. The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) subsequently upheld Alihussein's order on July 16, 2004. Alihussein has been on the run evading law enforcement since 2004.

During Alihussein's arrest, ICE deportation officers discovered a concealed, unregistered and loaded 9mm handgun. The handgun was subsequently seized and the case has been presented to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Florida for federal prosecution. If convicted, Alihussein would serve out his sentence in the U.S. prior to being deported.

Those arrested represent the following countries: El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Algeria, Haiti, Romania, Georgia, Albania, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Jordan and Panama.

Operation Return to Sender is an integral part of the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), a comprehensive multi-year plan launched by the Department of Homeland Security to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration. Under SBI, Homeland Security seeks to gain operational control of both the northern and southern borders, while re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from the country quickly and efficiently. SBI also involves strong interior enforcement efforts, including enhanced worksite enforcement investigations and intensified efforts to track down and remove illegal aliens inside this country. Also as part of SBI, 424 illegal aliens were deported from Miami to their respective home countries in January 2007. Of those deported, 131 had criminal convictions.

Rozos thanked the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Broward Sheriff's Office, the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office and the Riviera Beach Police Department for their assistance during the operation.

-- ICE --