Nearly 20 illegal aliens were taken into custody during an operation at a “sprawling home” in Utah where a large number of ‘migrants’ and criminals were living, authorities say.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) just announced details about the raid, which took place on May 14 in Washington, a city on the outskirts of St. George.
Working in partnership with the Washington City Police Department, officers from a variety of federal agencies served a Utah state search warrant for possession of false documents and illegal drugs.
“The focus of the search warrant was a sprawling home with subdivisions throughout, designed to house dozens of adults in cramped, unsafe conditions,” ICE explained in a press release.
“Local law enforcement records reflect multiple police contacts over a multiyear period for domestic-violence related shooting, drug-related calls, and numerous noise complaints, and was generally regarded as an ‘extremely problematic’ dwelling by local law enforcement and city leadership.”
In total, 18 illegal aliens were taken into custody along with another individual of unspecified immigration status.
Among the illegals arrested were six under final orders of removal, two under expedited orders of removal, a Mexican with charges of identity theft and forgery, and a previously-deported Guatemalan with charges for identity theft and forgery.
Some of the illegals have been previously deported and were charged accordingly for illegal reentry.
“By leveraging the assets of federal and local law enforcement, we will continue to successfully fulfill our mission of ensuring public safety and national security,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes, Jr.