ICE arrests more than 1,700 including Caribbean Nationals.

Source: www.ice.gov

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Wednesday October 1st, 2008 the arrest of 1,759 gang members and associates, criminals and immigration violators as part of a four-month summer crack down which they described as the "largest ever nationwide gang surge".

ICE says that of the individuals arrested during the surge, nearly 1,500 were gang members, associates or those otherwise criminally charged -- including more than 30 percent with violent criminal histories and 17 gang leaders. The remaining individuals were encountered and arrested for immigration violations during the enforcement action and have been placed into removal proceedings. ICE agents arrested 730 individuals on new criminal charges ranging from attempted murder, aggravated assault and drug and firearms violations to charges of re-entering the country after deportation.

Individuals were arrested in 53 cities across 28 states and came from 33 countries, including; 1,096 from Mexico and 392 from the United States. Caribbean nationals included 12 from the Dominican Republic, 5 each from Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba and 2 from Trinidad and Tobago. 

Also from the Caribbean was Kinske St. Vilus, one of five arrests highlighted by ICE officials in their press release. St. Vilus, 33, a Bahamian national is described as a leader of the Uptown Gang. He was arrested in Miami for an open warrant on RICO conspiracy charges. He reportedly has numerous criminal convictions including possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine and aggravated battery.