Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies teamed up Thursday to arrest 17 foreign nationals with ties to violent street gangs in Morgan Hill, San Jose, San Martin and Gilroy. At least four suspects were arrested in Gilroy.Operation Community Shield, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, lasted all day Thursday and also involved the Gilroy and Morgan Hill Police departments and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.
Authorities said they arrested the four suspected Sureño gang members between 7 and 8:30 p.m. who lived in Gilroy. Police charged the four men under a U.S. immigration code barring aliens from entering the country at improper times and places. A press release from the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said, "the foreign national gang members who were arrested on administrative immigration violations (were) placed in removal proceedings. They will be held in ICE custody and scheduled for a deportation hearing before an immigration judge."
Other arrestees also face drug and burglary violations. Authorities also recovered a .38-caliber snub-nose revolver, but it was unclear which city it was found in. One woman who was picked up had been convicted of carrying a loaded gun in public. Most of those arrested belonged to a sub-gang known as Varrio Sur Rifa.
"The Gilroy Police Department was pleased to assist ICE in this effort to combat dangerous criminal street gang members," Gilroy Police Chief Denise Turner said. "In order to ensure that gang members do not intimidate and victimize our community members, the Gilroy Police Department will continue our efforts to dismantle criminal street gangs by building partnerships with the community and working cooperatively with outside agencies."
Operation Community Shield has traced and seized cash, weapons and other assets derived from criminal activities and has netted more than 13,000 suspected gang members and associates linked to more than 900 different gangs since February 2005, according to the press release.
Gilroy arrests
Luz Ceja, 25, of the 9100 block of Desiderio Way
Hector Chavez, 26, of the 8300 block of Parish Way
Juan Altamirano, 27, of the 200 block of Chappell Court
Rigoberto Jimenez, 25, of the 8400 block of Carmel Street
Chris Bone
Chris Bone covers City Hall for The Dispatch. Reach him at 847-7109 or e-mail him at cbone@gilroydispatch.com.
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