An operation was carried over three days in the Southeast of United States aimed at foreigners who were accused of indulging in criminal activities. Five hundred and ninety six immigrants were arrested by Federal Agents who were found to have records that were criminal in nature. This was the biggest operation ever conducted for such a sweep in the Southeast as per the officials.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement termed it as the “Operation Cross Check” and is the largest agency to have carried out such an operation which was aimed at convicts. Those criminals who were convicted and have served their sentences are being tried to be deported.

Four hundred federal agents and law enforcement officials were involved in this sting operation. Convicts were caught from Florida, North and South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Puerto Rico and Mississippi.

As per the officials, the convicts were not targeted based on their nationality. Those arrested belonged to sixty different nationalities which consisted of Asians, Latin Americans, Eastern Europeans, the Middle East and Africans and so on.

These immigrants would most possibly be deported or would be subject to a hearing. However, the prosecutors might press charges against around twelve of these convicts arrested due to their previous immigration records pertaining to arrest. The arrested could be sentenced for up to 20 years of imprisonment if found to be involved in re-entry into the nation illegally.

Additionally, there were three of them who were charged with murders, the sex offenders consisted of another twenty six and drug charges were impressed on more than two hundred and fifty. As per the officials, these convicts were targeted because of their likely chances to commit crimes again.