San Diego, CA – Said Salimitari, a 61-year-old Iranian national with a violent criminal record, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) San Diego on July 17. Salimitari, who has multiple convictions, is currently in ICE custody awaiting removal proceedings. The arrest was announced by ICE San Diego via their official social media channels, stating, "Said Salimitari, 61, an Iranian national with a violent criminal record, was arrested by ICE San Diego on July 17. With multiple convictions under his belt, Salimitari now awaits removal in ICE custody."
ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) prioritizes the identification, arrest, and removal of noncitizens who pose a threat to public safety or national security. The agency's Criminal Alien Program (CAP) specifically targets individuals with criminal records, including those convicted of aggravated felonies, to expedite their removal processes. Federal law defines various offenses, including certain violent crimes, as aggravated felonies, which make noncitizens deportable.
The arrest aligns with ICE's stated mission to focus on individuals with criminal histories, though recent data indicates a broader scope in arrests. While ICE maintains its focus on "public safety threats," analyses of recent enforcement actions show that a significant portion of detainees may not have serious criminal convictions, with some reports indicating that nearly half of those detained by ICE lack a criminal record. However, the agency emphasizes that any noncitizen in the U.S. illegally is subject to arrest and potential removal.
For individuals like Salimitari, who have a criminal record, the removal process can be expedited. Once in ICE custody, noncitizens with criminal convictions may be subject to mandatory detention, meaning they are held without the possibility of bail throughout their deportation proceedings. The ultimate goal of these proceedings is to secure a final order of removal, after which ICE coordinates the individual's departure from the United States.