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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
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. |
