Feds nab 44 in immigration sting

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they arrested 44 men in the Chicago area this week as part of an operation targeting criminal aliens and immigration fugitives.

The men, who were arrested in Chicago and 23 area towns, all had criminal records.

Eighteen were immigration fugitives who failed to leave the country when ordered, and 10 had been deported but illegally re-entered the country.

Thirty-three of the men already had been convicted of crimes, including assault, aggravated DUI, battery, burglary, cocaine possession, distributing marijuana and domestic violence, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Thirty-three of the men arrested are from Mexico, while five are from Poland and three are natives of Guatemala. One man from the Philippines, one from Mongolia and one from Slovakia also were arrested, authorities said.

Arrests were made in North, Northwest and West suburbs, including Aurora, Bensenville, Des Plaines, Elgin, Mundelein, Naperville, North Chicago, Oswego, Park City, Park Ridge, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Wheeling and Winfield.