ICE issues detainers against alleged illegal immigrant burglars

Seven individuals who are allegedly part of a South American Theft Group were arrested by the Scottsdale Police Department in Arizona last week after committing two burglaries in Tempe and Mesa. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued seven detainers for their removal, highlighting the agency’s commitment to holding criminal illegal aliens accountable for victimizing Americans.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin praised ICE’s efforts under Secretary Noem’s leadership, stating that criminal illegal aliens will be held accountable for their actions. The suspects, identified as Nicolas Rojas Leon, Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, Lady Johanna Gueito, and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, are all facing numerous criminal charges and have been ordered held in the Maricopa County Jail on $150,000 cash-only bonds.

The South American Theft Group, originally from Colombia and operating out of California, has been linked to burglaries in California, Oregon, Washington, and now Arizona. Scottsdale Police were alerted to the group’s activities by the Burbank Police Department in California, which shared information about the organization, including vehicle descriptions, to help apprehend the suspects.

South American Theft Groups have been a growing concern in affluent areas across California, Arizona, Colorado, and the nation at large. The prevalence of these groups, including those from Chile, has prompted bipartisan calls for reform of the visa waiver program. In Arizona specifically, a string of “dinner-time burglaries” in recent years has been linked to SATGs.

While the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office did not comment specifically on the suspects’ potential deportation, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell noted that there are ICE detainers in place for each individual. Scottsdale Police declined to comment on ICE-related matters, deferring to the county attorney’s office. Arizona is not listed as a sanctuary jurisdiction by the DHS.

ICE’s efforts to dismantle and deport South American Theft Groups like the one responsible for the recent burglaries in Arizona are part of a broader strategy to protect American communities from criminal illegal aliens. The agency is working closely with law enforcement agencies nationwide to ensure that these groups are held accountable for their actions and removed from the country.

This article was written by Cameron Arcand, a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand.