PEORIA (25News Now) -The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Friday to 25News that 21 people were arrested during targeted immigration enforcement operations in Peoria and Springfield in the last three days.
In a statement to 25News, a DHS spokesperson said:
“From October 26 to October 28, ICE conducted targeted operations in Springfield and Peoria and arrested 21 illegal aliens, including those with final orders of removal and criminal histories including attempted first-degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, kidnapping with a firearm, home invasion with a firearm, aggravated battery, prostitution, domestic violence, fraud, DUI, and more.
All of the illegal aliens arrested receive due process and will remain in ICE custody until they are removed.
Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”
DHS did not specify how many people were arrested in each city, identify those taken into custody or provide a breakdown of how many individuals had been convicted of the listed offenses.
The department also did not clarify whether all 21 individuals had criminal histories or whether some were arrested solely for immigration violations.
The statement comes two days after the Immigration Project confirmed an increase in federal immigration enforcement activity across Peoria, Bloomington and Springfield.
Charlotte Alvarez, executive director of the Immigration Project, told 25News Wednesday that her organization had confirmed at least 10 people detained since enforcement operations began earlier in the week.
However, DHS’s latest statement only addressed enforcement operations in Peoria and Springfield and did not provide information about any arrests in Bloomington.
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