By Arun Kumar

Washington, Jan 24 (IANS) More than 750 foreigners from 14 countries including India have been removed from the US or are facing deportation following a massive weeklong drive against illegal and criminal aliens in California.

The largest single sweep came as part of "Operation Return to Sender", a nationwide initiative targeting criminal aliens, foreign nationals dodging deportation orders and other immigration violators, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Tuesday.

The majority of the aliens taken into custody in the drive ended Monday are Mexicans. But the group also included immigration violators from 13 other countries including the Ukraine, India, Japan, Poland and Trinidad.

Since its launch in June 2006, Operation Return to Sender has resulted in more than 13,000 arrests nationwide. Last fiscal year ICE removed more than 190,000 aliens from the US including more than 86,000 criminal aliens.

"As part of our commitment to the Secure Border Initiative, ICE is dedicating unprecedented resources to identifying and arresting criminal aliens and immigration fugitives," said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE Julie L. Myers.

"This country welcomes law abiding immigrants but foreign nationals who flout our laws and commit crimes against our citizens should be on notice that there are consequences for their conduct."

Added Jim Hayes, the field office director for ICE detention and removal operations in Los Angeles: "The goal of our enforcement efforts is two-fold. First, it's about restoring integrity to our nation's immigration system.

"Second, it is about safeguarding our communities from those who brazenly disregard our laws and often prey upon other members of the immigrant community."

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