
Gregory Bull / AP
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents take a suspect into custody as part of a nationwide immigration sweep in Chula Vista, Calif., on Friday.
Federal agents arrested more than 3,100 unauthorized immigrants last week in the country’s biggest-ever operation targeting criminal and fugitive immigrants for deportation, immigration officials said Monday.
From last Saturday to Thursday, agents in all 50 states used intelligence to track down certain immigrants.
The agents started before dawn; a supervisor would brief them about the person they aimed to arrest that day. In Dallas, a video from the raid on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website shows a supervisor describing a man who had been deported before and who had a drunk-driving conviction.
The agents then headed to the person’s home, hoping to reach them before the person could leave for the day.
The roundup was the third “Cross Check” sweep since May 2011. In last week's raid, 1,900 agents arrested 3,168 immigrants, 90 percent of them men.
"These are people we do not want roaming our streets," John Morton, director of ICE, said at a news conference, according to Reuters. He said those arrested included almost 1,500 people with felony convictions, including murder and kidnapping.
Among those arrested were Carlington David Richards, 34, of Jamaica, who was living in Federal Way, Wash. Richards had recently moved to the U.S. and is wanted in Jamaica for murder, according to ICE.
Jose Angel Duran-Ramos, 66, of Mexico, was living in El Paso, Texas, and was convicted of murder in 1984 and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Veasna Uy, 34, of Cambodia, was living in Long Beach, Calif., and was convicted of manslaughter, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in 2000.
Gillian Christensen, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman, told msnbc.com that the agency has focused on deporting known criminals since President Barack Obama took office. Now, 50 percent of deported immigrants have prior criminal records. In 2008, about 30 percent had criminal records.
There were 11.9 million unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. in 2008, about 4 percent of the nation’s population, according to the Pew Research Center. Last year, the service deported 396,000 people.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:


The Mexican government does all it can to sneak illegals into the US then give them documents to help steal American resources.
Not true.
And don't want Americans working illegally in THEIR country.
We keep hearing about how it is such a benefit to have illegal foreigners working.
Why don't they want such a benefit for themselves?
BF their was a study that offered Americans Immigrants jobs... and NO ONE SIGNED UP! We won't do their work HERE saying we are missing out on opportunities there is asinine
That's true. Here in Texas, we've found proof of this numerous times. Mexican officials are pretty open about it and even publish the best routes of getting here.
Could you please use examples? Or at least link a story..
They say it like it's some great accomplishment that they did their jobs for once.
And I'd like to see these guys deported to Argentina so we know they won't be back.
If that's too expensive and Argentina doesn't want them (a given) then dig a hole.
Genocide?
If it makes you feel better we can do it one by one - the way they do one of us when we're down there and get in trouble.
You know gringo goes to mexican prison and no one sees him again, that way it doesn't punch one of your precious PC buzzwords.
God forbid WE offend anyone, they're killing us like hotcakes.
MSNBC says "Undocumented Immigrant"! The world says ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a good start but there are more than 20 million more to go!!!!
I have a hard time believing the numbers bandied about for number of illegal immigrants. If 12 million is the right number, and the population of the US is roughly 300 million, that means that illegals account for roughly 4% of the population. That means that, when walking down the street, 1 in every 25 people you see is illegally here. If other numbers stated here are accurate (20-30 million), that would mean that 1 out of 10 to 15 people are here illegally. These numbers simply can't be believed.
Note to the editor: The correct term for these people is "Illegal Alien" not "undocumented immigrant"
This false political correctness needs to stop.
We've sure become a nation of haters. Obese haters at that. Focusing on the real criminals is a good thing. Can't do em all or most americans would starve.
Yeah, rounding them up will be about all that happens here, let's see them sent packing, I for one am SICK and Tired of my tax dollars going to support programs for ILLEGAL ALLIENS, they are not undocumented immigrant, they are ILLEGAL ALLIENS!!!!
I'm glad the gov't is finally stepping up to the plate to start getting rid of these illegals. I see them sitting in the parking lots in front of the Home Depot down the street from me almost everyday, waiting for some contractor to come and lead them to the job site. It's not fair that I'm a natural citizen, born and raised, and I can't find work anywhere because these people are taking all of the jobs! An American citizenship is a privilege, not a guaranteed right for anyone who comes waltzing across the border. Seriously, go back, be a responsible adult, and wait your turn in line like everyone else.
Why don't you go stand outside of Home Depot... It's working for them.
I was in a car accident last year, messed my back up. Doctor has forbidden me from any activity that includes heavy labor or lifting anything over 50 lbs. Besides, I doubt construction workers want to hire a 19-year-old female. Just saying.
The government likes to keep things running in cycles. That preserves jobs and bad conditions. That's why we don't have correctional facilities, only holding facilities.
The President of the good old USA has 2 relatives in Mass. that are ILLEGAL one ins in public housing and has been for years and dress quite nice , and had a closed door hearing on her status which is now unknown. Then there is the Presidents uncle who has been here since 1972 and is working how I do not know and was arrested for drunk driving and was let go with nothing more then a slap on the wrist and is let to go back to work in a liquor store, and you know whothe Presidents uncle wanted to call when he got arrested THE WHITE HOUSE so lets start there and go from here.......WHAT A BUNCH OF B.S.
get the bad ones out and leave those who try to make a living and do good stay. one day when this country hit rock bottom and they want help from other countries like the saying says what goes around comes right back around. them days not far away.
well if americans want to work the farms and do hard and dirty jobs working very hard very little pay then nobody will take your job its because you americans are lazy and want things the easy way yall saying that ppl taking the jobs oh please stop being lazy and step up and learn to work for what you want and dont wait on the jobs where you get AC and heat year round!!!!!!!
You are stupid, we americans are fully prepared to work VERY hard, but unlike desperate illegals we expect the pay to be commensurate with the level of hard work that is required. There is nothing wrong with expecting to be paid a decent wage for hard work. Farms and other businesses cause this illegal immigration to happen because they desire to have slave labor rather than actually have to pay for hard honest work.
Hey, without illegals undercutting wages, those jobs will pay at least 100% more and PLENTY of Americans including healthy college students and the like willing to work summers on a farm to help raise tuition money will be glad to live a healthy life farm-style for a few months each year!!!!!
Then what is the excuse for the presidents aunt and uncle who are here illegally and are given all the benefits of u.s. citizens.....get real
Retired... Produce also goes up 100% and now we'll have Millions of "real Americans" who can not afford to eat. Not just that but no one wants those jobs as it is. It has been tried and FAILED miserably.
And Old Cape Cod 2 people .. Really? you expect ANYONE (yes even the president) to deport their own familly don't hold your breath. Hell Conservatives don't deport their cleaning ladies!
O army of least insight I to am retired and worked very hard for every thing I got and I also have been in many places around the world and I know this ILLEGAL IN ANY LANGUAGE IS STILL ILLEGAL. Where do we draw the line when this country is going down the ringer for the last time. If the DEM'S. OR REPS. don't get rid of the cleaning ladies then WE have to get rid of them vote the bastards out of office it is that simple....
I applaud your efforts, army of insight. I try sometimes, too, but it gets exhausting.
Most of these people had been convicted of MAJOR crimes. Why weren't they in prison?
In Dallas, a video from the raid on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website shows a supervisor describing a man who had been deported before and who had a drunk-driving conviction. Good, im fed up with illegal immigrants first breaking our laws by coming here illegally. Im extremely furious that they come here and then get wasted on something, then decide to drive and wreck into another car murdering one or more innocent american civilians. This bs has got to be stopped, and since these illegals are determined to break our laws and then murder us, they should be made to do some prison time then get deported.
And-of course-they won't have car insurance or assets to take care of the citizens they screwed with a car wreck!
I didn't know most of them wanted to murder us. Crime/arrest rates will paint a different picture.
you want to stop illegals from coming cutoff freebies from the govt. don't give immunity to children born in us illegally deport the parents with their kids they weren't supposed to be here in the first place don't freaking hire them if they cant work they wont be here charge the Mexican govt or whatever country their from the cost of deporting them then maybe that country will do more to close the border on their side if we hit them in the wallet that will put a dent in it
Yea!!!!! This story made my day. But, the truth is that all illegals have deliberately broken the law to grab benefits to which they are not entitled from free medical care to "instate" tuition unbelievably from a few states who are encouraging illegals to flock to the U.S. And, because they ausually work "off the books," they are not paying for the services they are sucking up from poor U.S. citizens who need them. It is time to give all police forcs in the U.S. legal power to arrest and turn in illegals for mass deportations by freighter, train, cattle car convoys if necessary.
Ah yes round up a specific race and load them into trains... wait I've heard this before,
What a idiotic comment! It is NOT about race-it is about mass criminal invasion and activity. Actually, it is even organized crime where there are specific safes houses, etc. I suggest that the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) be fully applied against smuggling gangs, "churches" funneling funds and fake I.D.'S and other subversive groups to start choking off the flood of illegals from literally taking over or country as has already happened witht the hundreds of thousands of illegal Cubanos in South Florida and Mexicanos in parts of Texas and Southern California.
actually it is for the most part about a race because others cant get here by plane or ship without a passport or visa so it is many times harder for lets say a Philippine to get here that a Mexican because their is a lot less water to cross
the illegal ppl pay taxes too and all the money they paying they dont it all of it back so what the gov. doing with the money? nice question. and not only mexicans are illegal in this country so i wish you ppl would stop being senseless and pointing fingers. 90% of americans have things the easy way help is always there since you ppl born if you ppl only know what it is like to wake up everyday and wondering where you will get food to eat then you ppl will change the way you think. but when the final war start and you ppl have to defend yourself i hope you do and dont ask anybody for help because yall will never get it. the last days are here and it is happening so fast we cant see it or we too naive
have you ever heard what these illegals get back from the IRS yea they file tax returns 5 or more people use the same ssn I know this I have seen it and reported it made up names and everything else they get more than they pay cause they work it so they show little to know income and get back sometimes double what they pay in so what is the govt doing with all that money giving it back and more to support illegal imports not of the car variety
OBAMA WINDOW DRESSING.....
They will all be held in detention and slowly run through immigration hearing rooms...detained some more....and then RELEASED leading up to election and sent to states to vote for Obama where Eric Holder and DOJ are successful in blocking photo id requirements to vote.......
SIMPLE STUFF.....
I've got an idea...get rid of ALL immigrants here ILLEGALY. Jobs open up for those 28 million currently unemployed (our 9% rate currently).
What's that you say: "Americans won't do those jobs". I beg to differ.
Show me a struggling male or female that wouldn't like to make money to eat, have a roof over their head and get back on their feet and build towards a future and I'll say..."either do the job or suffer...there is no welfare or government assistance for you since you don't want to contribute to better yourself and this country".
There...now the unemployment rate is down to about 3-4%.
Oh yeah...put armed Border Patrol on the fence lines down on the Mexico border AND Canada border. Give them the authority to shoot to kill anyone that drops a foot on American soil illegaly. That'll put a stop to this.
What...too harsh? Damn straight. What do you do when cockroaches start to take control of your house? Step on them. Fumigate. It's a dog eat dog world out there. It's hard enough for Americans. We don't need the competition of illegal immigrants to fight us for our survival...no matter what country they come from.
I can show you many Americans who want those "free hand outs" you shun instead of working in the fields.
Thats murder.
Nuff said. Common sense = kill them all... haha RIIIIGHT
Re: "can show you many Americans who want those "free hand outs"..."
You're right. And SHAME on our politicians in not putting a stop to that! You don't (shouldn't) get anywhere in the country without trying. Even drug dealers know that you can't sit on your a$$ and have the money just role in.
It's not "murder" to kill people that are illegaly crossing into our country. In case you haven't noticed over the past 10 years, our country is under seige by some VERY dispicable people that have no care or respect for our country, our citizens and more.
No it actualy is murder... I promise... look it up. And many/most are not despicable. The brush you paint is far too broad, and even more racist/xenophobic
i am born american to caribbean parents who came here on visa and americans are the ones who take the benefits from this country and leaving it broke. you must be american to get benefits so big deal. and where ever ou born that will be your citizenship so quit crying. that is why so many companies are locating else where for their products to be made because this country is too expensive and companies dont want to run at a lost so if americans dont want to do something about the high prices it will lose loads of jobs to come. poor thing
Cripes, they could get that many in the county I live in and not even make a noticable dent in their population. All the while our tax dollars totally subsidizing this group of criminals. Or is that not politically correct to call them that any more?
The biggest sweep ever? This should be an every day happening! Nice to see ICE getting off their asses.
well if americans can work then there will be no fighting the americans will get the jobs like i say if you ppl want work and show you can work and ppl will hire simple and easy
That roughly leaves 11996832 roaming free - good job! At this speed it will take about 3878 days to clean the mess :)
well when americans go to other countries the same thing should apply treat them like trash when they over step their boundry