Madison WI - Illegal alien gang members arrested in Sheboygan

Illegal alien gang members arrested in Sheboygan

For The Reporter • June 12, 2008

MADISON – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today the successful arrest of eight suspected criminal illegal aliens or Entry Without Identification (EWI) individuals, in and around Sheboygan, Wisconsin earlier this week.

This is a result of ongoing cooperative efforts to identify, bring into custody, and turn over to Federal ICE officials for administrative proceedings and ultimate deportation, these violent individuals known to be members of organized criminal street gangs, according to a press release from the AG's office.

In coordination with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Sheboygan Police Department, and the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Justice Special Agents participated in a successful operation in connection with Operation Community Shield.

Operation Community Shield is 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.

Under Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen’s leadership, the Wisconsin Department of Justice has become a more active partner and participant in these cooperative enforcement operations concentrating on criminal aliens.

“The identification and arrest of illegal aliens who organize and are members of criminal street gangs must be a top priority of all law enforcement. The success of this operation speaks for itself. These street criminals are now out of Wisconsin neighborhoods and off the streets.” said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. He went on “I am grateful to the Sheboygan Police Department, the Sheboygan County Sheriff, and the ICE officials with whom we have and will continue to work cooperatively.”

Those arrested are being held in a federally contracted holding facility in Wisconsin and will be brought before federal officials imminently to consider their ultimate disposition and deportation.