In a coordinated action between federal and local law enforcement agencies, 19 individuals were detained in Washington City, Utah, following the execution of a search warrant on Wednesday. The operation, as reported by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeted those involved in suspected illegal activity, including the possession of false documents and illegal drugs.
The search warrant was part of a larger initiative to tackle safety and security issues within the community. According to ICE, the individuals taken into custody consisted of six illegal aliens with final orders of removal, two with expedited removal orders, five with voluntary departures, and three who were issued notices to appear before an immigration judge. Also among those arrested were individuals from Mexico and Guatemala, each facing charges of identity theft and forgery.
"By leveraging the assets of federal and local law enforcement, we will continue to successfully fulfill our mission of ensuring public safety and national security," said Lester R. Hayes, Jr., ICE Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge, as obtained by ICE, highlighted a commitment to collaboration between agencies to promote safer neighborhoods and stronger communities.
The location of the search, a large home divided into several subdivisions, was deemed unfit for habitation due to overcrowding and unsafe living conditions. The house had a history of issues, with local law enforcement responding to various domestic violence-related shootings, drug-related incidents, and repeated noise complaints over the years. The agencies involved in this joint investigation included HSI St. George, Enforcement and Removal Operations in St. George, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. George Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff's Office. All those arrested are being held in ICE custody pending further criminal or removal proceedings.
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