(NewsNation) — Over 200 people were arrested after a 12-day operation conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Of the 216 arrested in the operation, 31 have been removed by Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Acting ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner told reporters at a Thursday news conference that many of those arrested had final orders of removal and are now in Enforcement and Removal Operations’ custody.
The operation, which ran from March 11 through 22, covered 25 areas nationwide, Lechleitner said.
Among 456 total criminal convictions, 86 were for drug trafficking. Other convictions included burglary, sexual assault, kidnapping and forgery. About 419 “non-citizens” were subject to what Lechleitner called “law enforcement action.”
Drugs uncovered in the operation included methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and synthetic drugs. Migrants who were arrested came from 28 different countries, said Russ Hott, deputy executive associate director of ERO.
“We’re on a mission to protect the American public by detaining and removing people who contribute to this horrible drug crisis,” Lechleitner said, noting that in FY22, there were almost 110,000 overdose deaths in the United States. “That’s exactly what this is. It’s a crisis.”