Federal gang crackdown hits suburbs, Chicago

A weeklong gang crackdown by federal immigration enforcement officials with the help of local police departments resulted in the arrest of 25 Mexican nationals who will subsequently be deported.

The arrests were part of a national Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiative, called Operation Community Shield, which targets transnational street gangs.

The operation was conducted Sept. 6-13, and arrests were made in Aurora, Barrington, Chicago, Elgin, Joliet, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Romeoville, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The 25 men arrested were from six gangs: the Latin Kings, Vice Lords, Satan Disciples, Latin Saints, Party People and Sureño 13.

Twenty-two of the 25 arrested have a criminal history including convictions for drug possession, aggravated assault, vehicle theft, battery and concealing a homicide, according to federal authorities.

Two of the men arrested were turned over to Aurora police to face state drug charges and are in custody at the Kane County jail with ICE detainers. The remaining 23 are in ICE custody pending deportation, according to authorities.

Since the launch of Operation Community Shield in February 2005, more than 23,600 gang members and associated have been arrested nationwide and 2,300 firearms have been seized, according to federal authorities.