The U.S. Department of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement detained 81 people in Kentucky accused of being in the U.S. illegally this month during “enhanced, targeted enforcement.”
The arrests happened between March 10 and March 14, the agency says.
Twenty-five of the 81 people detained were charged with criminal offenses including illegal reentry, illegal possession of firearms and illegal possession of controlled substances, and taken to jail.
The remaining 56 people will be held in an ICE detention facility for further immigration proceedings. Most ICE detainees in Kentucky are taken to the Boone County Detention Center.
Detainees then wait for a hearing to determine if they will be granted bond and released while their immigration case goes through the courts.
The arrests were announced Tuesday in a news release from ICE. Additional information about where in Kentucky the arrests happened was not immediately available.
The news release was one of several posted Tuesday by ICE highlighting arrests and charges of people accused of being in the country illegally.
President Donald Trump has pushed for an aggressive crackdown on people in the country illegally. Most recently the Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which allows presidents during war to detain or deport immigrants that would otherwise have legal status. It was last used to detain Japanese American citizens during World War II.
ICE officials said among those charged in Kentucky were:
—A 35-year-old citizen of Honduras charged with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and illegal reentry.
—A 50-year-old citizen of Mexico charged with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
—A 30-year-old citizen of Mexico charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
—A 45-year-old citizen of Guatemala convicted of domestic violence conviction, public intoxication, driving without a license and DUI.
—A 44-year-old citizen of India convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor, intimidation and battery.
—A 28-year-old citizen of Mexico charged with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
—A 32-year-old citizen of Mexico convicted of drug trafficking, possession of multiple firearms with machine gun conversion devices who is charged with possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and illegal reentry.
Partner law enforcement participating in the operation included the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to a written release.
“Operations that lead to the arrest and detention of alien offenders can be complex and may, at times, prove to be challenging,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago Field Office Director Sam Olson. “Our agency is more than capable to meet those challenges.
“I’m grateful for all our federal partners here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and we are committed, as a united group, to removing individuals from our communities who pose a threat to public safety and national security.”
