Ghanaian Fugitive Arrested In Sting in Chicago

CHICAGO -- Sixteen immigration fugitives (including a Ghanaian Ibrahim Kofi Mensah) were recently arrested in the Chicago metro area during a four-day initiative, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Friday.

ICE officers made the arrests during "Operation Return to Sender," which started Monday and ended Thursday, according to a release from ICE. It is part of an ongoing nationwide operation targeting aliens who have final orders of removal.

The 16 individuals arrested during the operation are all fugitive aliens with final orders of deportation, the release said. Of the 16 arrested, 13 have criminal records including convictions for drunken driving, fraud, and robbery, the release said.

Among those arrested were Ibrahim Kofi Mensah, a 41-year-old from Ghana, arrested Oct. 16 at his Chicago residence, the release said. He has been convicted of criminal sexual abuse and violating an order of protection, and has been considered a fugitive since failing to report for deportation in January 2000.

Both are in ICE custody pending removal.

Others arrested in the operation were from Albania, China, the Czech Republic, India, Nigeria and Poland, according to the release.