News Releases

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Sept. 16, 2011

Sept. 15, 2011 — Los Angeles-area immigration consultants charged in asylum fraud scheme

The owner of New Arrival Immigration Service and one of his employees have been charged with immigration benefit fraud and failing to disclose their role as preparers on asylum applications. These charges resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Full Story

Sept. 15, 2011 — IFCO senior managers plead guilty to unlawful employment of illegal aliens

Five senior managers of the former IFCO Systems, N.A., a Houston-based corporation, pleaded guilty this week to hiring and employing unauthorized aliens at IFCO plants nationwide between January 2003 and April 2006. Full Story

Sept. 15, 2011 — 25 arrested in Chicago area during ICE operation targeting gang members

ICE HSI agents arrested 25 individuals during a week-long operation in the Chicago area. These arrests were part of Operation Community Shield, a national initiative in which ICE partners with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to target transnational street gangs. Full Story

Sept. 14, 2011 — ICE HSI repatriates pre-Columbian bowl to Belize

ICE HSI repatriated a z-angle pre-Columbian feasting bowl to the Belizean government. The bowl, likely looted from a grave, was created by Mayan Indians and dates back to 200 to 600 A.D. ICE HSI agents recovered the bowl after executing a search warrant on a Santa Fe, N.M., residence. Full Story

Sept. 14, 2011 — Mexican fugitive wanted for murder removed from US

A Mexican citizen wanted in his native country for homicide, as well as assault and battery, was turned over to prosecutors from the Mexican Attorney General's Office at the Mexico/U.S. border by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers. Full Story