A Scottsdale Police Department vehicle. (Scottsdale Police Department)
"ICE is working alongside partner law enforcement agencies throughout the country to ensure that South American Theft Groups — like the one allegedly responsible for burglaries in California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona — are dismantled and deported once and for all. We will not allow criminal illegal aliens to terrorize American communities," McLaughlin added.
The suspects are Nicolas Rojas Leon, 23, Joan Sebastian Orozco-Vargas, 26, Andres David Sanchez-Novoa, 38, Natalia Isabella Ortiz-Daza, 26, Martha Juliana Echiverri-Guzman, 28, Lady Johanna Gueito, 32, and Angie Paola Herandez-Manrique, 25.
According to DHS, the group operates out of California but is originally from Colombia.
GUN-TOTING NOEM JOINS ICE AGENTS TO GO AFTER CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS IN ARIZONA
An exterior view of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters July 6, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
South American Theft Groups have been prevalent throughout communities in California, Arizona, Colorado and nationwide, particularly in affluent areas.
Although this group originated in Colombia, SATGs, like those from Chile, have triggered bipartisan calls for visa waiver program reform.
A string of "dinner-time burglaries" in recent years in the Grand Canyon State has ties to SATGs, Arizona’s Family reported in March 2024.
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When Fox News Digital reached out to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, it noted comments County Attorney Rachel Mitchell made at a press conference earlier this week before ICE formally announced the detainers.
"Obviously that's a federal issue," Mitchell said when asked about the possibility of suspects being deported. "But my understanding is that there is an ICE file stop on each of the individuals."
Scottsdale police said they do not comment on ICE-related matters and deferred to the county attorney's office. There are no sanctuary jurisdictions listed by the DHS in Arizona.
Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
Cameron Arcand is a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-ice-issues-detainers-against-alleged-illegal-immigrant-burglars