22 DETAINED IN ANTI-GANG RAIDS : ILLEGAL ALIEN SUSPECTS NETTED IN SIMI SWEEP.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

In an operation billed as an anti-gang sweep, a team of more than two dozen local and federal agents raided 12 houses early Thursday, arresting or detaining 22 people, most on suspicion of violating immigration laws.

Immigration officials detained 19 illegal immigrant suspects, and one - 19-year-old Hugo Alejandro Villajenor - was arrested on an outstanding warrant for battery, officials said. He was booked at the Ventura County Sheriff's Department's East Valley station in Thousand Oaks, with deportation proceedings pending.

In addition, county officials began proceedings against three gang members suspected of violating probation by possessing stolen property or graffiti-related material. None of the three was arrested Thursday.

The raid - the 11th since the ``knock and talk'' program was started in October 1995 - is intended to deliver a message that gang activity will not be tolerated, Simi Valley Police Chief Randy Adams said.

``We plan on continuing (these raids) - no set time, no set date - kind of on a regular basis,'' he said.

Congressman Elton Gallegly, the former Simi Valley mayor who has made illegal immigration a top priority, accompanied members of the Simi Valley Police Task Force and U.S. Border Patrol on the raids, which began before dawn.

He watched as six illegal immigrant suspects - who frequently get caught up in the sweeps, officials say - were led from a home in the 1500 block of Third Street.

``It appears this was a pretty good one on the list,'' Gallegly said.

Adams estimated that more than 100 people have been arrested since the sweeps began.

``Sometimes we've averaged as many as 18 or as few as five arrests (per sweep),'' he said.

Several code enforcement officials participating in the sweep issued citations at four homes for various violations including illegal occupancy; hazardous plumbing, wiring and mechanical equipment; excess trash accumulation; inadequate sanitation; and keeping an excessive number of dogs.

Sweeps such as the one Thursday are less common in Thousand Oaks, where the last one occurred about two months ago, said Cmdr. Kathy Kemp of the Thousand Oaks Police Department.

``We've had a gang sweep whenever we've had a major incident or there is intelligence that something is about to happen,'' Kemp said.

There are, however, regular probation searches to ensure that probationers are abiding by their terms, she said.

``Almost on a weekly basis we go and visit one of our fellows,'' Kemp said.

Adams said the targeted homes were chosen for a variety of reasons. Some were the homes of known gang members who were suspected of violating their probations. Others had been the source of complaints by neighbors, who reported a laundry list of problems ranging from overcrowding to unruly behavior.

``The unfortunate part, in fairness to these folks, is there may be some relatives or associates who aren't involved in gangs who get caught up in this,'' Adams said.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Johnny Villamil, 70, left, waits to be questioned by border agents and police officers Thursday in Simi Valley.

(2--Simi edition only) Handcuffed illegal immigration suspects make their way toward a waiting van.

(3--Color) U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly watches a woman break down in tears during a raid on a home in Simi Valley.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News