Illegal Aliens Working in North Carolina
Aviation Jobs Arrested by ICE
GREENSBORO, N.C. (ICE) — ICE agents arrested 27 aliens March
8 in an investigation into their use of counterfeit documents
while working as aircraft mechanics and in other aviation-related
jobs at the Piedmont/Triad International Airport.
The illegal
aliens arrested all worked for contract labor companies who supply
workers to TIMCO, a company that performs contract maintenance
on passenger and cargo aircraft. Federal officials said TIMCO
was not a target and is fully cooperating in the ongoing investigation,
called “Operation Fly By.”
Since the
tragic events of September 11, 2001, ICE has placed a priority
on protecting the nation’s infrastructure. There is no reason
to believe at this time that the individuals arrested were planning
any terrorist activity.
Of the 27
aliens arrested, 24 were charged with being illegally present
in the United States. Two others were charged with fraudulently
obtaining permanent resident immigration status and one was subject
to removal as a convicted aggravated felon. All 27 were charged
administratively and placed in deportation proceedings. Their
home countries include Sudan, Chile, Peru, Zimbabwe, the Philippines,
Venezuela, Mexico and Laos.
This action
is part of ICE’s Operation Tarmac, an initiative that targets
employers and illegal aliens who have access to sensitive areas
at airports. Under Tarmac, ICE has conducted investigations at
196 airports nationwide.
ICE
Deports Child Rapist to Mexico
Mexican alien was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl and felony
assault
IDAHO
FALLS, Idaho — A child rapist from Mexico who had previously
been deported in 1997 was again deported late yesterday by agents
from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Bulmaro Lopez-Herrera, 34, was originally deported
after his 1995 conviction for raping a 12-year-old girl in Menan,
Idaho. He was sentenced to two years fixed prison time and six
years “indeterminate time.” The judge suspended that
sentence and awarded Lopez one year in prison with various conditions.
Lopez’ criminal record also includes a prior
felony conviction in 1994 for aggravated assault in Bonneville
County, Idaho, for discharging a firearm at an inhabited residence—a
drive-by shooting. He was sentenced to a two-year minimum confinement,
followed by a three-year indeterminate confinement.
ICE special agents made this latest arrest of
Lopez Feb. 16 following a routine check of Idaho State registered
sex offenders. Lopez was arrested at his residence in Menan, Idaho,
without incident. According to U.S. immigration law, aggravated
criminal aliens such as Lopez are mandatory removal cases. In
addition, it is a federal crime to illegally re-enter the United
States after having already been formally deported, as Lopez was.
Lopez was held in Madison County Jail in Rexburg,
Idaho, since his arrest by ICE agents in February.
“Lopez has two prior felony convictions:
one for aggravated assault, and another for raping a 12-year-old
girl when he was 24 at the time. He then illegally re-entered
the United States after having already been deported. Lopez has
repeatedly shown that he is a danger to the community, and that
he has no respect for abiding by U.S. laws,” said Susan
G. Friesenhahn, resident agent-in-charge of the ICE Idaho Falls
office.”
“Lopez’ arrest and deportation is
a classic case of ICE enforcing the immigration laws against a
repeated felon and foreign national,” continued Friesenhahn.
“If Lopez again defies U.S. laws and re-enters the U.S.,
he could be prosecuted and receive up to 20 years in prison. Arresting
and deporting criminal aliens, especially child sex predators
like Lopez, is a high priority for ICE.”
This removal
is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to
protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel
overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal
alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. Since Operation
Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more
than 5,100 individuals, including more than 30 in Idaho.
ICE encourages the reporting of suspected child
predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline
at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. ICE investigators staff this hotline around
the clock.
Suspected
child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported
to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an
Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.