Dear Editor:

As was widely reported in national and local media, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested criminal illegal aliens residing in cities throughout Los Angeles County, including the city of Downey, this past weekend. 

According to ICE representatives, these operations are routine and have been carried out for years. 

The operation targeted criminal illegal aliens, not those whose only crime was to have entered the country illegally or overstayed a visa. 

Of the 180 individuals arrested this weekend in Los Angeles County, 160 had committed felonies, while the remaining had committed misdemeanors, according to ICE. 

Felonies include such crimes as murder, rape, robbery and driving under the influence. Illegal aliens committing such serious crimes are a danger to society, including those of us who live in the City of Downey. These criminal illegal aliens must be deported for public safety. 

ICE is welcome in my city of Downey; criminal illegal aliens are not.

Brian Heyman
Downey