3 GLENDALE GANG MEMBERS NABBED IN NATIONWIDE SWEEP.Byline: Josh Kleinbaum Staff Writer Federal officials announced Monday that three Glendale gang members - two from Armenia and one from Mexico - were among 26 Southern Californians arrested as part of a two-week nationwide immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. enforcement operation targeting violent street gangs. The men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is responsible for identifying and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation and infrastructure personnel as part of Operation Community Shield, an ongoing anti-gang initiative in which 582 people have been arrested nationwide between July 16 and Thursday, federal officials said. Officials would not release the names of the suspects because they were arrested on suspicion of administrative immigration violations. Two of the local men are members of Armenian Power Armenian Power, also known as AP or the Armenian Mafia, is an Armenian-American gang located in Los Angeles. History The collapse of the Soviet Union prompted a massive wave of Armenian immigration into Los Angeles County, California in the early 1990s, , and the third is a member of the Westside Locos - both violent street gangs in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County, officials said. ``ICE brings to gang investigation the unique ability to enforce immigration laws immigration laws npl → leyes fpl de inmigración immigration laws npl → lois fpl sur l'immigration immigration laws npl and use that against some of these gang members committing crimes in our communities,'' said Steve Lovett, ICE's assistant special agent in charge. ``These are either convicted felons, they've entered without inspection or overstayed their visas.'' One of the Armenian men is 27 and has been living in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. since 1989. He has prior convictions for robbery and drug possession. He was ordered deported in March 2000 but was released under an order of supervision. The second man arrested is 24 and has been in the United States since 1980. He has prior convictions for drug possession and spousal spou·sal adj. 1. Of or relating to marriage; nuptial. 2. Of or relating to a spouse. n. Marriage; nuptials. Often used in the plural. battery, officials said. Both are expected to be deported to Armenia, Lovett said. The third Glendale resident, a 20-year-old member of the Westside Locos with prior convictions for vandalism, vehicle theft and manufacturing a dangerous weapon, is expected to be deported to Mexico, officials said. ``We're trying to bolster the integrity of immigration laws, and a good place to start is with gang members out there running roughshod on communities, terrorizing people, filling the streets with crime,'' Lovett said. Josh Kleinbaum, (818) 713-3669 josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com |
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