In a sweeping two-week initiative across West Virginia, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, collaborating with local law enforcement, successfully detained over 650 undocumented immigrants. This extensive operation was carried out peacefully, without any protests, as stated by federal officials.
According to a press release from ICE issued on Sunday, the operation spanned from January 5 to January 19 and involved collaboration with 14 different federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
ICE strategically positioned teams in various cities including Charleston, Martinsburg, Beckley, Moorefield, Morgantown, and Huntington to execute the operation efficiently.
During the operation, law enforcement officers apprehended numerous undocumented individuals. Among those detained were people identified by ICE as potential threats to public safety and national security, as well as others who had unlawfully entered the United States.
Throughout the operation in West Virginia, ICE officers managed to arrest over 650 undocumented immigrants. (Photo Credit: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Michael Rose, the acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Philadelphia, emphasized the operation’s success: “This initiative highlights the powerful impact of partnerships between ICE and West Virginia law enforcement agencies in boosting public safety and upholding the integrity of our immigration system.” He added, “Through training and supporting our partners across the state, we have effectively augmented local abilities to identify, detain, and process undocumented immigrants, ensuring these actions adhere to legal standards.”
One individual arrested as part of Operation ICE Wall on Jan. 8 was Sagar Singh, a citizen of India. The operation targeted illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles, and Singh was pulled over for failing to stop at a mandatory brake check station.
During the stop, Singh was cited for multiple vehicle infractions, including operating an unsafe commercial vehicle. According to ICE, Singh had previously been ordered removed from the U.S.
ICE officers arrested Sagar Singh, an Indian national previously ordered removed, during Operation ICE Wall after he was stopped for failing to clear a mandatory commercial vehicle brake check. (ICE)
Singh was one of more than 25 aliens arrested under Operation ICE Wall during the two-week enforcement surge.
Another illegal alien arrested during the operation was Ling Yan, a citizen of China also known as Yang Ning, who was previously convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ravenna, Ohio.
ICE also arrested a convicted child sex abuser, an individual with drug possession convictions and numerous other offenders during the operation.
On Jan. 11, ICE officers arrested Ling Yan, a Chinese national also known as Yang Ning, who was previously convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ohio and has a final order of removal. (ICE)
One of the agencies that worked with ICE was the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, whose top official praised the results of the two-week operation.
“The Sheriff’s Office was impressed with the professionalism and work ethic of the agents and how well they interacted with the citizens and local law enforcement officers,” Jefferson County Sheriff Tom Hansen said. “Working with such a high-caliber group of agents who were assigned to Jefferson County made the decision to support the initiative worthwhile.”
“We are also gratified that through this program, we have had the opportunity to remove numerous dangerous criminals from our community,” he added.
